New biodegradable alternatives to current agricultural plastic products (IMAGE)
Caption
The INSOIL project, which brings together 16 centres from eight European countries and is coordinated by the Institute of Packaging, Transport and Logistics Technology, with the participation of the Universitat Jaume I of Castelló, addresses pollution caused by plastics, fertilisers and plant protection products in agriculture. It does so through the development of three families of fully bio-based, safe and soil-biodegradable plastic products—mulch films, seedling protectors and coatings for controlled-release fertilisers—aimed at contributing to more sustainable agricultural production.
To create these new products, INSOIL will make use of six types of second- and third-generation bio-based raw materials (biogenic CO₂ emissions, waste from the pulp and forestry industry, by-products from agriculture and food processing, and microalgal and microbial biomass) and will develop functional prototypes of plastic products. These products will be validated under real conditions with end users, namely leading fruit and vegetable producers in southern and northern Europe.
In situ biodegradation is conceived as an effective alternative to single-use agricultural plastics used in farming, such as mulch films and seedling protectors, as these materials safely biodegrade in the receiving soil after use. The system will be based on PHA, a family of bio-based polymers (biopolymers) produced by microorganisms, with proven biodegradability in soil and water. In addition, three types of active bioproducts will be integrated—organic NPK fertilisers, microalgae-based biostimulants and plant protection products (PPPs)—which will provide added soil functions, improve soil health and enhance crop protection and growth.
The team from the public university of Castelló is made up of Luis Cabedo Mas and José Gámez Pérez, members of the PIMA Group (Polymers and Advanced Materials), and Victoria Pastor Fuentes and Jordi Gamir Felip from the PIB Group (Biochemistry and Plant Immunity). They stress that “minimising the release of conventional plastics into the environment is essential to ensuring sustainable agri-food systems, as in addition to reducing soil fertility and harming biodiversity, they may also enter the food chain”.
By 2035, the commercialisation of these agricultural products is expected to help reduce microplastic release by 5,820 tonnes and agrochemical use by 4,000 tonnes, cutting CO₂ emissions by 16,000 tonnes and generating savings of €17.4 million for the agricultural sector. This would support compliance with European reduction targets and mark progress towards carbon neutrality by 2050, in line with the European Green Deal.
Project website: https://insoil.eu/
Credit
Universitat Jaume I of Castellón
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