Plastic Pollution in Agriculture as a Threat to Food Security, the Ecosystem, and the Environment: An Overview

• Published in: Agronomy (Basel) Vol. 14; no. 3; p. 548
• Main Authors: Lakhiar, Imran Ali, Yan, Haofang, Zhang, Jianyun, Wang, Guoqing, Deng, Shuaishuai, Bao, Rongxuan, Zhang, Chuan, Syed, Tabinda Naz, Wang, Biyu, Zhou, Rui, Wang, Xuanxuan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.03.2024
• Subjects: Agricultural industry; Agricultural pollution; Agricultural production; Agriculture; Bioplastics; Canada; China; Climate change; COVID-19; Crop production; Ecological footprint; Ecosystems; Food quality; Food security; Food supply; High density polyethylenes; International economic relations; Low density polyethylenes; microplastic; nanoplastic; Natural resources; online food delivery service; Oxidation; Physical properties; Plant production; Plastic pollution; Plastics; Pollution; Pollution sources; Polyethylene terephthalate; Polymers; Polyvinyl chloride; Productivity; Raw materials; Safety and security measures; single-use plastic; Soil pollution; Soil water; Soils; South Korea; Sustainable development; Sustainable use; Water use; Canada; South Korea; China
• ISSN: 2073-4395; 2073-4395
• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy14030548

Plastic products in plant production and protection help farmers increase crop production, enhance food quality, and reduce global water use and their environmental footprint. Simultaneously, plastic has emerged as a critical ecological issue in recent years, and its pollution has significantly impacted soil, water, and plants. Thus, this review examines the multifaceted problems of plastic pollution in agriculture as a risk to food security, the ecosystem, and the environment. The study’s objective was to review and present the most recent information on using different plastic products in agriculture, the sources of plastic pollution, the advantages and drawbacks of using plastic products, and the strategies for mitigating plastic pollution in agriculture. Furthermore, after examining current plastic applications, benefits, adverse effects, and risks to soil, plants, and the environment, we addressed the requirements for technological advancements, regulations, and social processes that could contribute to mitigating plastic pollution in our ecosystems. We identified different pathways toward more sustainable use of plastics in agriculture and discussed future research directions.