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Agronomy & Leaf Integrity

Objectives

The Agronomy and Leaf Integrity Study Group is concerned with the broad and all-encompassing role agronomy, and agronomists, play in modern tobacco production and in meeting the expectations of stakeholders. It is involved in the scientific study of the production of all types of tobacco leaf. This embraces all crop management practices including propagation, cultivation, harvesting and curing, storage, and environmental factors that influence yield and usability. It further incorporates the principles of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) that lead to efficient, sustainable tobacco production and leaf supply. The Study Group’s focus continues to expand into the areas of environment, social, and governance (ESG), and agronomic issues related to conventional and next generation products.

In the Press: CORESTA Agronomy Study Group (Tobacco Journal International Oct/Nov 2011)

Sub-Groups

AA - Agrochemicals Analysis - 1972

Objectives

  1. To perform regular proficiency testing of Multi-Residue Methods for the analysis of agrochemical residues on tobacco.
  2. To undertake joint experiments to resolve unanswered questions arising from proficiency tests; to expand knowledge base on agrochemical residues and their analysis.
  3. To produce and maintain a series of Technical Notes (on different agrochemical residue classes and selected individual compounds) to supplement the Technical Guideline and aid method development and improvement.

PSMST - Pest and Sanitation Management in Stored Tobacco - 1993

Objectives

  1. To educate about, and promote best Integrated Pest Management practices for post-harvested tobacco worldwide.
  2. To conduct collaborative studies on pest control and sanitation practices for post-harvested tobacco.
  3. To investigate new technologies and issues related to infestation control in post-harvested tobacco.

GMO - Proficiency Testing for Detection of Transgenic Tobacco - 2004

Objectives

  1. To establish a Proficiency Testing Scheme to enable participants to monitor their laboratory testing performance by means of interlaboratory comparisons of analytical results obtained by using appropriate PCR methods for the detection of GM tobacco.
  2. To provide an independent assessment of the quality of data being produced by participating laboratories, through the Tobacco Proficiency Testing Scheme.

RFT - Agrochemical Residue Field Trials - 2012

Objectives

  1. In consultation with ACAC, to prepare and maintain a list of agrochemicals necessary to sustain successful leaf production and for which GRLs have to be set or reviewed.
  2. To produce a formal protocol for trial and testing procedures.
  3. To promote participation in this programme globally.
  4. To collate results of trials done under the formal protocol and make them available to ACAC.
  5. To collect already available field residue trial data from various sources and make them available to ACAC.

Task Forces

GTS - Green Tobacco Sickness - 2022

Objectives

  1. To determine if green tobacco sickness is a significant risk to workers based upon tobacco type and style, method of harvest and conditions at harvest and topping.
  2. To assess the impact of personal protection equipment (PPE) on preventing green tobacco sickness.

 

Task Forces

SUST - Sustainability in Leaf Tobacco Production - 2012 - 2016

Objectives

  1. To identify key issues for sustainability in tobacco leaf production.
  2. To review, update and complement CORESTA Guide No. 3, considering sustainability Principles and/or Best Practice.
  3. To identify tools to support the achievement of sustainability in tobacco production.

Work completed - DISBANDED June 2016