Project
Agricultural plastics used in crop production often remain in the soil after application. Persistent plastic accumulation leads to the release of microplastics and toxic substances causing soil pollution and threatening ecosystems. Single-use plastics are of particular concern, as they are impractical to recover. To mitigate these impacts, the EU aims by 2030 to 1) reduce by 20% fossil-based plastic production and 2) cut by 30% microplastic releases into the environment. In response, bio-based alternatives are emerging, as they can safely biodegrade in-soil. However, further development is needed to produce biodegradable technologies that are high-performing and cost-effective. INSOIL tackles agricultural plastic pollution by developing three families of fully bio-based, safe in-soil biodegradable products in the form of mulch films, plant guards and controlled-release fertilisers (CRFs), in order to replace widespread single-use plastics in crop production. These three product families will be based on sustainable PHA combined with tailored additives (MFCs, modified lignins), enabling for programmed biodegradation suited to specific climates and crops. They will be enriched with active bioproducts (organic NPK, biostimulants, bio-based PPPs) to enhance their functionality, value and adoption. INSOIL agriproducts will be field validated with end users (TRL8) across relevant vegetables and fruit trees in Southern and Northern Europe. SSbD experts will ensure compliance, policy recommendation will advance relevant regulations and standards, and circular business models will secure market acceptance. By 2035, INSOIL agriproduct commercialisation will reduce (micro)plastic release (5,820 tonnes) and agrochemical use (4,000 tonnes), cutting CO2 emissions by 16,000 tonnes, while generating €17.4 M in savings for farmers. INSOIL will thus contribute to a secure food supply and boost the sustainability, circularity, autonomy and competitiveness of EU bio-based value chains.
Coordinator
INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO DEL EMBALAJE, TRANSPORTE Y LOGISTICA (Spain)
Partners
INSTITUTO TECNOLOGICO DEL EMBALAJE, TRANSPORTE Y LOGISTICA (Spain), SABIO SRL (Italy), HOCHSCHULE FUR ANGEWANDTE WISSENSCHAFTEN HAMBURG (Germany), EUROPEAN BIOPLASTICS EV (Germany), ALMA MATER STUDIORUM – UNIVERSITA DI BOLOGNA (Italy), CAPSULAE (France), PARTICULA GROUP DRUSTVO S OGRANICENOM ODGOVORNOSCU ZA ISTRAZIVANJE RAZVOJ I PROIZVODNJU (Croatia), IVL SVENSKA MILJOEINSTITUTET AB (Sweden), ASOCIACION VALENCIANA DE AGRICULTORES (Spain), NORMEC OWS (Belgium), TEKNOLOGIAN TUTKIMUSKESKUS VTT OY (Finland), NORCE NORWEGIAN RESEARCH CENTRE AS (Norway), NOVAMONT SPA (Italy), UNIVERSITAT JAUME I DE CASTELLON (Spain), CO2BIOCLEAN GMBH (Germany), BOERENBOND PROJECTEN (Belgium)
Tasks of Normec OWS
- Biodegradation and ecotoxicological evaluation of INSOIL agriproducts in different environments, including high-throughput testing
- Examination of microplastic formation through extraction procedures
- Evaluation of suitability of the agriproducts for organic recycling through industrial composting and anaerobic digestion
- Contribute to the development of new standards or the revision of current standards
The project is supported by the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking and its members. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or CBE JU. Neither the European Union nor the CBE JU can be held responsible for them.