Project number: 101238988

Project title: Preventing Nitrate Pollution for Environmental Health: European Experience in Implementing the Nitrates Directive for the Ukrainian Circular Economy

Project acronym: EU_NITRA_UKR

Topic: ERASMUS-JMO-2025-MODULE

Type of Action: ERASMUS One-off Grants

Grantor: Education and Culture Executive Agency The grant is managed through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal (eGrants)

Project start date: 01.11.2025-31.10.2028

Project duration: 36 months

Total grant amount: EUR 35,000

Groundwater pollution by nitrates is an acute problem in all European countries with developed agricultural production. In response, the European Community has strengthened regulations to reduce nitrate pollution from agricultural sources, such as the Nitrates Directive, which sets out a specific action plan, including monitoring of all types of water bodies, identification of polluted or at risk of pollution, definition and establishment of codes of good agricultural practice and national action programmes.

The overall objective of the project is to study how to implement the Nitrates Directive in Ukraine through educational and social activities.

Students and schoolchildren who have completed educational courses within the project become key agents and target groups in promoting the Nitrates Directive. Their participation ensures the transfer of knowledge and the formation of an environmental culture among young people and local communities.

Expected results: students, schoolchildren and teachers will have the opportunity to gain new knowledge through an interdisciplinary approach to the implementation of the Nitrates Directive; assess the concentration of nitrates in drinking water, especially in dug wells used for drinking water supply of small communities in Ukraine; develop "nitrate vulnerable zones", understand how to prevent nitrate pollution through good agricultural practices and improved sanitation.

This project has been implemented with the financial support of the European Union. This publication (website) reflects the views only of the authors, and the European Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.