The overall objective of the FOOTPRINT project is to develop a set of 3 computer tools that will allow users to:  i) identify the dominant pathways and sources 
of pesticide contamination in the agricultural landscape.    
 ii) estimate levels of pesticide concentrations in surface water and groundwater.    
 iii) make scientifically-based assessments of how the implementation of risk reduction strategies is likely to reduce pesticide contamination of water 
resources.    
  
The operational goals of the project are therefore:  i) to develop a suite of 3 pesticide risk assessment and management tools, for use by three different user 
communities:  - farmers and extension advisors at the local (farm) scale,   
- water managers at the catchment scale,   
- and policy makers/registration authorities at the national/EU scale.    
   
 ii) to evaluate the usability and performance of the FOOT tools through piloting and evaluation studies at their various scales of application. 
            

The tools which are being developed are designed to operate at different scales and are optimised for use by different end-user communities :   
  
- FOOT-NES : this tool allows risk assessments to be undertaken at the large scale (EU and member states scale). FOOT-NES is designed to meet the needs of EU 
and national policy- and decision-makers, of Environment Ministries and Agencies. The tool is also likely to be of interest to pesticide registration authorities. 
  
  
- FOOT-CRS : the tool is designed for scales ranging from small catchments to regional levels and for use by 'water managers', may they be local authorities, 
environment agencies, water companies or stewardship managers.   
  
- FOOT-FS : this tool is being developed for use at the local (farm scale) by agricultural advisers and farmers.