Summary
The use of plastics in agriculture can have harmful effects on a wide range of ecosystem areas due to the resulting higher accumulation of micro- and nanoplastics in the soil. In this project, the use of plastics in agriculture, for example in vegetable cultivation and after long-term compost application, will be investigated in more detail. The goal of this project is to obtain more accurate data on the degree of pollution of agricultural land with plastics, as well as to facilitate the use of more sustainable plastics in agriculture in the future.
Project description
Although the use of plastics in agriculture has many advantages, it also harbours risks, as the fields are polluted by the plastics. The tiny particles of various micro- and nanoplastics are absorbed by various organisms. This uptake can jeopardise the nutrient cycle, plant growth or biodiversity. One aim of the MINAGRIS project is to research the use and effects of plastics in agriculture and to develop a more sustainable use of plastics in agriculture. The findings are to be discussed with farmers, companies and political decision-makers and pave the way for the sustainable use of plastics. A cornerstone of the MINAGRIS strategy is to provide an overview of the intentional and unintentional use of plastics in European agriculture and an accurate assessment of the level of plastic pollution in agricultural soils. To this end, the MINAGRIS research consortium has developed the SoilPlastic App(SoilPlastic App | Minagris), an application for interested parties that helps scientists to better understand how much plastic ends up in the soil. With the app, plastic observations can be recorded anytime and anywhere on mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets. An entry only takes about five minutes and can easily be done on the go. The app serves to raise awareness of the issue of plastic in the soil on the one hand and to collect broad-based data on the other.
Interim results
In the Austrian "case study sites" Marchfeld and Alpenvorland, a total of 20 farmers were interviewed about the use of and possible contamination with plastic on their farms. In addition, soil samples were taken from two fields per farm. These were analysed for macro- and microplastics.
Publications
Lwanga, E.H., Beriot, N., Corradini, F., Silva, V., Yang, X., Baartman, J., Rezaei, M., van Schaik, L., Riksen, M., Geissen, V., 2022. Review of microplastic sources, transport pathways and correlations with other soil stressors: a journey from agricultural sites into the environment. Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture 9. doi.org/10.1186/s40538-021-00278-9
Beriot, N., Zornoza, R., Lwanga, E. H., Zomer, P., van Schothorst, B., Ozbolat, O., Lloret, E., Ortega, R., Miralles, I., Harkes, P., van Steenbrugge, J., & Geissen, V. (2023). Intensive vegetable production under plastic mulch: A field study on soil plastic and pesticide residues and their effects on the soil microbiome. Science of The Total Environment, 900, 165179. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165179
Brander, S. M., Senathirajah, K., Fernandez, M. O., Weis, J. S., Kumar, E., Jahnke, A., Hartmann, N. B., Alava, J. J., Farrelly, T., Almroth, B. C., Groh, K. J., Syberg, K., Buerkert, J. S., Abeynayaka, A., Booth, A. M., Cousin, X., Herzke, D., Monclús, L., Morales-Caselles, C., ... Wagner, M. (2024). The time for ambitious action is now: Science-based recommendations for plastic chemicals to inform an effective global plastic treaty. Science of The Total Environment, 949, 174881. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174881
Gnoffo, C., & Frache, A. (2024). Identification of Plastics in Mixtures and Blends through Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. Polymers, 16(1), 71. doi.org/10.3390/polym16010071
Kundel, D., Wiget, A., Fliessbach, A., Bigalke, M., & Weber, C. J. (2025). Tracks of travel: Unveiling tyre particle concentrations in Swiss cantonal road soils. Microplastics and Nanoplastics, 5(1), 6. doi.org/10.1186/s43591-025-00112-1
Lwanga, E. H., Beriot, N., Corradini, F., Silva, V., Yang, X., Baartman, J., Rezaei, M., van Schaik, L., Riksen, M., & Geissen, V. (2022). Review of microplastic sources, transport pathways and correlations with other soil stressors: A journey from agricultural sites into the environment. Chemical and Biological Technologies in Agriculture, 9(1), 20. doi.org/10.1186/s40538-021-00278-9
Meng, K., Harkes, P., Huerta Lwanga, E., & Geissen, V. (2024). Microplastics exert minor influence on bacterial community succession during the aging of earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris) casts. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 195, 109480. doi.org/10.1016/j.soilbio.2024.109480
Saldi, E., Forestieri, B., Nuzzi, C., Toledo, M., Lwanga, E. H., Karpouzas, D. G., & Negri, I. (2025). Role of Biodegradable and Non-Biodegradable Microplastic in Modulating the Toxicological Effects of Organic Pollutants in the Soil Organism Folsomia candida. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 236(11), 710. doi.org/10.1007/s11270-025-08351-x
Last updated: 26.09.2025
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