RBGKEW1503 - Analysis of Fungicides in Soil Across England - Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment Programme

RBG Kew requires the provision of advanced analytical services to quantify fungicide residues in soil samples collected across England as part of the Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment (NCEA) programme. The work will involve the analysis of approximately 590 soil samples sourced from a range of land-use types, including agricultural fields, pasture land, improved grassland, and adjacent habitats potentially exposed to pesticide runoff. Control sites with minimal exposure will also be included to provide baseline comparisons.

• Sample preparation and extraction suitable for complex soil matrices.
• High-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analysis to identify fungicides, transformation products, and metabolites at trace levels.
• Application of novel high-speed testing workflows and bespoke data analytics pipelines for accurate detection and interpretation of chemical residues.
• Delivery of comprehensive data outputs, including presence/absence reporting, concentration estimates, and identification of transformation products, in formats compatible with RBG Kew's research requirements.
• Implementation of robust quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) measures to ensure data integrity and reproducibility.