Background The target area of the project is one of the most productive basins in Greece, home to intensive agricultural activities. Due to its potential for high groundwater and its proximity to Attika, it has become a viable emergency source of water for Yliki Lake, which supplies drinking water to the greater Athens area. Objectives The Ecopest project aimed to: Develop and implement a low-input agricultural strategy for hazard and risk minimisation with special focus on water protection; Map the targeted area and carry out environmental monitoring; Define appropriate risk indicators for the estimation of pesticide impact on aquatic systems; Train local stakeholders; Develop a national certification scheme for spraying equipment and accessories for the professional user of pesticides, distributors and advisors; Incorporate the project deliverables into national environmental policy and legislation and into the national standards for crop management of the National Organisation for Certification and Inspection of Agricultural Products (Agrocert); and Disseminate a crop protection system that focuses on EU environmental policy and the thematic strategy for the sustainable use of pesticides. Results The Ecopest project first established a basis for environmental monitoring and defined appropriate risk indicators. Subsequent monitoring activities – the identification of point sources of pollution and pest occurrence; the compilation of data on the level of pollutants and priority substances for drinking water quality standards; and the compilation of data on the hazardous potential to non-target organisms – enabled the project to then develop and implement low-input crop management systems. At the pilot area, the project implemented these systems to achieve a significant reduction in the amount of pesticide used in cotton, maize and plum tomato crops by 30% in 2.5 years. The most hazardous pesticides were replaced with safer alternatives and water and soil pollution were significantly reduced. Fewer pesticide applications led to a reduction of fuel use and thus greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide saving were estimated to be around 78 000 kg, while the application of minimum tillage reduced soil emissions of CO2 by 90%. In order to achieve these reductions, the project applied a range of innovative agricultural technologies that minimise contamination from agriculture. Among the different technologies used were a weed seeker, spray drift control nozzles, a prototype system for controlling spraying machinery, a ‘heliosec’ system for collecting liquid waste and environmental modelling and predicting models. Moreover, stakeholders received training on the following topics: Low-input crop management systems for cotton, maize and plum tomato Correct spraying Safe use of pesticides and fertilisers Personal protection Disposal of empty pesticide containers Safe storage of pesticides and fertilisers.The project represents a significant step towards the development of a national certification scheme for spraying equipment and the professional use of pesticides, distributors and advisors. Further information on the project can be found in the project's layman report and After-LIFE Communication Plan (see "Read more" section).