Descripción del proyecto
El estudio del uso del plástico y la contaminación plástica en sistemas de suelos agrícolas
El plástico es un material esencial en nuestra economía y nuestra vida diaria. Por desgracia, está asociado a altos niveles de desechos y la dispersión en el medio ambiente. Por ejemplo, pueden encontrarse desechos plásticos y especialmente microplásticos (partículas de menos de 5 mm) en los suelos agrícolas, desde embutidos de ensilaje y cobertores de invernaderos hasta lodos de depuradoras y compost. El proyecto SOPLAS, financiado con fondos europeos, reunirá a un equipo multidisciplinario para estudiar el vínculo entre el plástico, la agricultura y el suelo. También capacitará a una nueva generación de líderes destacados. El proyecto tiene como objetivo identificar el ciclo del plástico dentro de los sistemas de suelos agrícolas y apoyar el desarrollo de políticas ambientales relacionadas con la mitigación del impacto de los plásticos. Los resultados mejorarán nuestro conocimiento sobre el uso sostenible de los plásticos en la agricultura europea.
Objetivo
Plastics have become a key component of modern agriculture, both directly, through their use in production systems, such as greenhouse cover films and silage bags, and indirectly, such as through the application of sewage sludge or compost. However, we know almost nothing about the fate of this plastic and its impact on soil functions. The SOPLAS ETN will address this critical knowledge gap, while delivering significant advances in understanding the plastic cycle within soil and supporting the development of environmental policies, agricultural practices and industrial opportunities related to mitigating the impact of plastics on the environment. More specifically, SOPLAS will: (i) adapt and optimise existing tools to detect and quantify macro- and microplastic input into agricultural soils; (ii) improve understanding of the degradation mechanisms of conventional and biodegradable plastic, as basis of optimizing used plastic materials and identifying remediation pathways; (iii) determine the impact of microplastic on soil functions and soil health; (iv) identify pathways for microplastic export from agricultural soils to freshwater ecosystems; and (v) analysis farmers’ and consumers’ willingness to reduce the input of plastic material into agricultural soils. To address these project aims and train a new generation of leading experts understanding the nexus of plastic-agriculture-soil, SOPLAS will bring together a truly multidisciplinary team of academic and industry experts, comprising economists, agronomists, hydrologists, soil scientists, microbiologists and chemists, using the most advanced state-of-the-art approaches in their respective fields. The training network will facilitate a dialogue between researchers, industry and practitioners with as ultimate goal to advance the sustainable use of plastics in European agriculture.
Ámbito científico
- natural sciencesbiological sciencesecologyecosystemsfreshwater ecosystems
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencessoil sciencesedaphology
- engineering and technologyenvironmental biotechnologybioremediationcompost
- natural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesenvironmental sciencespollution
- agricultural sciencesagriculture, forestry, and fisheriesagricultureindustrial cropsfodder
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
Régimen de financiación
MSCA-ITN - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Networks (ITN)Coordinador
86159 Augsburg
Alemania