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UID:pretalx-soil-health-now-2026-WV9HZB@pretalx.earthmonitor.org
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Athens:20261207T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Athens:20261207T180000
DESCRIPTION:Plastic pollution is increasingly recognized as a major environ
 mental challenge in agroecosystems due to the widespread use of plastic-ba
 sed materials for irrigation\, protection\, and plant support. Despite the
 ir practical benefits\, their persistence and fragmentation lead to the ac
 cumulation of (micro)plastics in soils\, contributing to long-term contami
 nation and negatively affecting soil health. As such contamination origina
 tes from material inputs\, the selection and use of agricultural products 
 represent a key starting point for reducing impacts and advancing regenera
 tive agriculture.\nIn perennial production systems such as apple orchards\
 , mitigating this issue is particularly challenging. Due to the long lifes
 pan of orchards\, materials must meet high functional requirements\, inclu
 ding long-term durability\, UV resistance\, and weather resistance\, which
  makes substitution with alternatives significantly more difficult. Furthe
 rmore\, the complete removal of plastic debris during orchard clearing is 
 often not feasible. Therefore\, it is essential that potential alternative
  materials undergo complete degradation under natural soil conditions.\nTh
 is study aims to examine the current use of plastic products in apple orch
 ards across different applications and to identify potential alternatives\
 , focusing on applications where substitution was deemed more feasible (li
 ke tying material). The methodology combined local retailer inquiries with
  targeted online research to compile and analyze a comprehensive product l
 ist\, including potential alternatives.\nIn addition\, a farmer perception
  survey was conducted to assess awareness of plastic-related environmental
  impacts\, knowledge of available alternatives\, and perceived barriers to
  their adoption.\nThe material assessment revealed that common polymers su
 ch as polyethylene (PE)\, polypropylene (PP)\, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC
 ) dominate specific application areas. The evaluation further highlighted 
 limited availability and transparency of material composition information\
 , as well as challenges related to recycling and end-of-life management\, 
 particularly for fossil-based plastics. A range of potential alternatives 
 was identified\, including biopolymers derived from renewable biological r
 esources and biobased or non-plastic options such as natural fibre-based p
 roducts. While these alternatives may reduce plastic inputs\, application-
 specific evaluation shows that high costs\, limited durability\, and const
 raints in circular economy strategies—including reuse\, recycling\, and 
 biodegradation—remain major barriers to effective substitution.\nAddress
 ing plastic inputs and their potential impacts on soils requires more than
  substitution\; it demands a systemic approach aligned with regenerative a
 griculture\, integrating material selection\, product design\, application
 -specific requirements\, and improved end-of-life management. Supporting f
 armer decision-making and fostering innovation in sustainable material sol
 utions are key steps toward regenerative and soil-protective agricultural 
 systems.
DTSTAMP:20260825T193958Z
LOCATION:Basement (Foyer)
SUMMARY:Use and Substitution Potential of Agricultural Plastics in Apple Or
 chards - Mirjam Hofer
URL:https://pretalx.earthmonitor.org/soil-health-now-2026/talk/WV9HZB/
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