The problem of plastic in our soils
By 
Bárbara Pinho2024-10-21T11:17:00
Not just a marine issue, new research shows microplastics are also changing agricultural land. Bárbara Pinho finds out how and what we can do to prevent it affecting our food
Plastic mulch has become an important part of the way farmers grow food. It protects the soil from pests while reducing evaporation and thus maintaining higher moisture levels. In Europe, around 4270km2 of agricultural land – about two-and-a-half times as big as Greater London – was covered with plastic mulch in 2010, and the practice continues to grow, with its global use increasing by 5–10% every year. But for all its benefits, using so much plastic to grow food comes at a cost.
Agriculture is a major contributor to plastic pollution. Inadequate waste management can leave a significant amount of mulch residue, which then breaks down into smaller particles, also known as microplastics.
Microplastics and plastic pollution often brings to mind marine life; turtles struggling with plastic straws, fish caught in discarded nets, seagulls eating plastic bags. But terrestrial landscapes are also at risk. Although a lot of plastic ends up in the oceans, most of the plastic that ends up there was produced, used and often disposed of on land. Calculations suggest that around 32% of all produced plastics may remain in continental environments. Littering and poor waste management contribute to this significant figure, as does tyre wear and the disposal of industrial and consumer waste.