According to a report from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, the way in which plastic is used in farming across the world is threatening food safety and potentially human health.
It says soils contain more microplastic pollution than the oceans and there is a need for better management of the millions of tonnes of plastic used in the food and farming system each year.
The benefits of plastic in producing and protecting food can be seen in the report. The use of plastic has become pervasive and most of it is lost after use. There is a growing demand for agricultural plastic.
The report said that there is increasing concern about the microplastics formed as larger plastics are broken down. Microplastics can carry diseases and can be consumed by people and wildlife. Some marine animals are harmed by eating plastic, but little is known about the impact on land animals or people.
The report serves as a loud call for decisive action to curb the disastrous use of plastic in the agricultural sector, according to the deputy director general of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
She said that soils contain larger quantities of microplastics than oceans. Microplastics can accumulate in food chains, threatening food security, food safety and potentially human health.
The future of global soils looked bleak without action to halt degradation, the Food and Agriculture Organization warned in December 2020. From the summit of Mount Everest to the deepest ocean trenches, there is a global problem of microplastic pollution.
According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization, over 12 million tonnes of plastic products were used in plant and animal production in 2019.
The report says plastic is easy to make and versatile. These include greenhouse and mulch films, which are more efficient at releasing nitrogen.
Despite the many benefits, agricultural plastics also pose a serious risk of pollution and harm to human and environment when they are damaged, degraded or discarded in the environment.
Asia was estimated to be the largest user of plastic, accounting for half of global usage. The global demand for greenhouse, mulching and silage films is expected to increase by 50% by 2030.
Only a small amount of agricultural plastic is recycled. The urgent need for coordinated and decisive action cannot be overstated.
Prof Jonathan Leake is a panel member of the UK sustainable soils alliance and he said that plastic pollution of agricultural soils is a pervasive problem that threatens soil health throughout much of the world.
He said that the impact of plastic was poorly understood and that it was important to keep soils and crops healthy.
He said that we are adding unnatural materials into agricultural soils without understanding their long-term effects. The problems in the UK are more serious because of the large amounts of plastic-contaminated sewage sludges and composts. It is impossible to remove the plastic before it is added to land.
The 6R model is cited as a solution by the report. Farming practices that avoid plastic use, substituting plastic products with natural or biodegradable alternatives, promoting reuse and improving plastic waste management are some of the things this means.
