Microplastic contamination in the soil is a problem for food security

This story was originally published by The Guardian and appears here as part of the Climate Table collaboration.

The “disastrous” way in which plastic is used in agriculture around the world is threatening food security and potentially human health, according to a report by Food and Drug Administration. farming Organization (FAO).

It says that soils contain more microplastic pollution than oceans and that there is “irrefutable” evidence of the need for better management of the millions of tons of plastics used in the food and agricultural system each year.

The report recognizes the benefits of plastic in the production and protection of food, from irrigation bags and silage to fishing gear and tree protectors. But the FAO said that the use of plastics had become widespread and that most were currently single-use and were buried, burned or lost after use. He also warned of a growing demand for agricultural plastics.

There is growing concern about microplastics that form as larger plastics break down, according to the report. Microplastics are consumed by persons and wildlife and some contain toxic additives and can also carry pathogens. Some marine animals are damaged by eating plastics but little is known about the impact on land animals or people.

“The report serves as a strong call for decisive action to curb the disastrous use of plastics in the agricultural sectors,” said Maria Helena Semedo, FAO Deputy Director General.

“Soils are one of the main receptors for agricultural plastics and they are known to contain greater amounts of microplastics than the oceans, “she said.” Microplastics can accumulate in food chains, threatening food security, food security and potentially human health. “

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Global soils are the source of all life on earth, but the FAO warned in December 2020 that his future seemed “bleak” no action to stop degradation. Microplastic pollution is also a global problem, invading the planet from the summit of mount everest to the deeper ocean trenches.

The FAO report, which was reviewed by external experts, it is estimated that 12.5 million tons of plastic products were used in plant and animal production in 2019, and another 37.3 million in food packaging.

Plastic is a versatile and inexpensive material that is easy to turn into products, the report says. These include greenhouse films and mulch, as well as polymer-coated fertilizer granules, which release nutrients more slowly and efficiently.

“However, despite the many benefits, agricultural plastics also pose a serious risk of contamination and damage to human and ecosystem health when they are damaged, degraded or disposed of in the environment,” the report says.

Data on plastic use is limited, he says, but Asia is estimated to be the largest user, accounting for about half of global use. Furthermore, global demand for important products such as greenhouse films, mulch and silage is expected to increase by 50% by 2030.

Only a small fraction of agricultural plastics is collected and recycled. FAO said: “The urgency for coordinated and decisive action cannot be underestimated.”

Prof. Jonathan Leake from the University of Sheffield in the UK and UK panel member Sustainable Soils Alliancesaid: “Plastic pollution of agricultural soils is a persistent and widespread problem that threatens soil health in much of the world.”

He said the impact of plastic was not well understood, although adverse effects had been observed in earthworms, which played a crucial role in maintaining the health of soils and crops.

“We are currently adding large amounts of these unnatural materials to agricultural soils without understanding their long-term effects,” he said. “In the UK, the problems are especially acute due to our applications of large amounts of plastic-contaminated sewage sludge and compost. We need to remove the plastics [from these] before they are added to the earth, since it is impossible to remove them later. “

As a solution, the FAO report cites “the 6R model”: reject, redesign, reduce, reuse, recycle and recover. This means adopting agricultural practices that avoid the use of plastic, replacing plastic products with natural or biodegradable alternatives, promoting reusable plastic products and improving the management of plastic waste.