Project description
Life cycle and impacts of agricultural plastics
The EU-funded PAPILLONS project will investigate the sustainability of agricultural plastics (AP) in relation to releases and impacts of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNP) in European soils. The initiative will promote knowledge on sources, behaviour and impacts through cross-disciplinary research, bringing together experts from chemistry, materials engineering, agronomy, soil ecology, toxicology and social sciences. PAPILLONS will transform the knowledge generated into guidance for policy-makers, the agricultural sector and world-class industries to promote sustainable farm production systems. Researchers will deliver the first digital European atlas of AP use, management and waste production to estimate sources of MNP in agricultural soils and integrate studies at laboratory, mesocosm and field scales in different parts of Europe.
Objective
PAPILLONS will elucidate ecological and socioeconomic sustainability of agricultural plastics (APs) in relation to releases and impacts of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in European soils. We will advance knowledge on sources, behaviour and impacts through cross-disciplinary research, bringing together scientists from chemistry, materials engineering, agronomy, soil ecology, toxicology and social sciences. We will transform the scientific knowledge generated into guidance on specific solutions by applying a Multi-actor approach, involving actors in the agricultural and policy sector and world-leading industries. This will enable co-creation of knowledge and provide the scientific background to enable policy, agricultural and industrial innovation towards sustainable farm production systems.
We will deliver the first digital European atlas of AP use, management and waste production to estimate sources of MNP to agricultural soils. We will run integrative studies at laboratory, mesocosm and field scales in different parts of Europe to address: occurrence of AP-derived MNPs; MNP behaviour and transport in soil; uptake by biota and crops; long-term impacts on soil properties, fertility and ecological services; effects on biological and functional diversity across multiple scales; effects on plant production and quality; and socioeconomic impacts of AP-based practices. We will focus on multigenerational effect studies for relevant traditional and biodegradable polymers, at realistic and future high-exposure scenarios.
PAPILLONS partners pioneered soil MNP research, host the majority of European analytical capacity for assessing soil contamination and will provide validated, high-throughput analysis for MNPs in soil. Using innovative applications of state-of-the-art analytical chemistry, we will advance analysis down to the nanoscale range and develop novel radiolabelled nanoplastics for accurately tracking behaviour and transport in soil and uptake by biota and crops.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
- H2020-EU.3.2. - SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research, and the bioeconomy Main Programme
- H2020-EU.3.2.1.1. - Increasing production efficiency and coping with climate change, while ensuring sustainability and resilience
- H2020-EU.3.2.1.2. - Providing ecosystems services and public goods
Funding Scheme
RIA - Research and Innovation actionCoordinator
0579 Oslo
Norway
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Participants (19)
11855 ATHINA
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00790 Helsinki
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00790 Helsinki
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1040 Bruxelles / Brussel
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14195 Berlin
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601 77 Brno
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28805 Alcala De Henares Madrid
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95447 Bayreuth
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1081 HV Amsterdam
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00185 Roma
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1000 Ljubljana
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53113 Bonn
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70121 Bari
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05-870 Blonie
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2311 EZ Leiden
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56070 Koblenz
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210093 NANJING
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52428 Julich
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166 28 Praha
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