Risk Assessment for Agricultural Pollutants (Armenia): Modelling and Optimal Control

Abstract

The transition towards a market economy in Eastern European countries creates better opportunities for partnership between economic and environmental policies. From uncertainty, which is typical for transition economies, arises the necessity of risk assessment in development projects. Environmental problems connected with agriculture are common not only for developing countries. In order to protect nature and the health of people it is possible to resign from nuclear technologies or reduce and close some productions. The same can’t be said about agriculture, where chemical substances dangerous to nature and people’s health are nowadays widely used. Though now science offers non-chemical means of agricultural production, none of those methods can substitute completely for pesticides. The only way out seems to be adopting a “favorable” strategy of pesticide usage in agriculture with appropriate risk assessment to achieve health safety and optimal environmental quality. This paper presents the problem of pesticide applications in Armenia. The questions of risk assessment, optimal control of pollution and regulatory policy choice are discussed.