In our dissertation we focus on description of decision support tools in agriculture for protection of water sources and their use in the European Union (the EU) and Slovenia. We present tools that already help us in achieving environmental goals. With their help we can make environmentally sound decisions that are in accordance with current, as well as future common agricultural policy in the EU. Based on weather conditions and developmental phases of pests these tools can recommend the time and the volume of applied agents for plant protection and crop fertilisation. There are very few instruments developed that can help with decision-making process as well as directly improve or demonstrate water quality. Most of them are actually intended to optimize production, which can also lead to better water quality. It is well known that effective use of fertilisers and plant protection agents reduces the chances of environment pollution. Despite the high potential of agriculture, more efforts should be made to transfer agricultural know-how to end-users of these tools. The biggest step towards widespread use would be introducing FaST as European commision has already suggested in their Common Agricultural policy plan for the 2021-2027 period. Nevertheless, the EU should address this challenge in a comprehensive way. While efficient use of nutrients and less interference with the environment are definitely much needed, we should find the ways to provide farmers with sufficient economic benefits, too.
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