Land used to grow food is likely to be contaminated with even more plastic pollutants than beaches and oceans as vast quantities leak into the environment from their use in agriculture.
A new report by the UN food and agriculture organisation (FAO) concluded that plastic pollution has become pervasive in agricultural soils posing a threat to food security, people’s health and the environment.
Plastic products are widely used in agriculture to help boost productivity. These include plastic covers to reduce weed growth, nets to protect and boost plant growth, and tree guards which protect seedlings and saplings from disturbance by animals.
The report found that of the estimated 6.3 billion tonnes of plastics produced before 2015, almost 80% had never been properly disposed of.
According to FAO data, agricultural value chains each year use 12.5 million tonnes of plastic products while another 37.3 million are used in food packaging. Crop production and livestock accounted for 10.2 million tonnes per year collectively, followed by fisheries and aquaculture with 2.1 million, and forestry with 0.2 million tonnes.
The FAO said that while the effects of large plastic items on marine fauna have been well documented, the impacts unleashed during their disintegration potentially affect entire ecosystems.
It noted that although most scientific research on plastics pollution has been directed at aquatic ecosystems, agricultural soils are thought to receive far greater quantities of microplastics since 93% of global agricultural activities occur on land.
Evidence is growing around the negative health impacts of microplastics. Classified as being less than 5 mm in size, microplastics have been found in human faeces and placentas as well as being transmitted to foetuses through their pregnant mothers.
Asia is estimated to be the largest user of plastics in agricultural production, accounting for almost half of global usage. The FAO said without viable alternatives, plastic demand in agriculture is only set to increase.
Although it said there were no “silver bullets” to eliminate the damages caused by plastic pollutants, the FAO called for the development of a comprehensive voluntary code of conduct for all aspects of plastics throughout agrifood supply chains as well as more research, especially on the health impact of micro- and nanoplastics.
It also identified several circular solutions based on the “Refuse, Redesign, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Recover” model.
“This report serves as a loud call to coordinated and decisive action to facilitate good management practices and curb the disastrous use of plastics across the agricultural sectors”, said FAO deputy director-general Maria Helena Semedo.
