New Digital Library on Agricultural Plastics Launched by IKHAPP with the technical support of FAO – AP policy relevant documents

IKHAPP with the technical support of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have unveiled a new digital library dedicated to agricultural plastics. This comprehensive resource aims to provide valuable information on the use, impact, and management of plastics in agriculture.

The image was created by AI.

This image was created by AI.

Challenges in Research: Researchers face significant hurdles in this field. While some data on plastic material flows exist, much crucial information remains unrecorded, unavailable, or unverifiable. Despite evidence of the negative effects of microplastics on soil ecosystems, standardized methods for testing and risk assessment are still lacking.

Importance of Investigation: Investigating agricultural plastics and their alternatives is crucial. This includes conducting life-cycle assessments of plastic products and compiling detailed inventories of their usage and waste management practices. The pathways through which microplastics enter the environment, their behavior in soil, and their impacts on both environmental and human health are not yet fully understood. In order to support analyses and advances on sustainability of the use of plastic in agriculture, IKHAPP has prepared a library of policy-relevant documents, which include research articles, databases and policy documents.

Addressing Knowledge Gaps: To bridge these gaps, the new digital library offers a wealth of information on agricultural plastics. Developed with the technical support of FAO, this library is a vital tool for researchers and policymakers alike. You can explore the agricultural plastics library here.

This initiative marks a significant step forward in collecting resources that can help to understand and manage the use of plastics in agriculture, aiming to foster more sustainable practices and mitigate environmental impacts. The library module on Agricultural Plastics was developed with the technical collaboration of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.