Aims:
Information is needed on micro-plastics in agricultural land and on their effects, to identify the risks of micro-plastics and the main sources of emissions. This information can be used to design the necessary measures to reduce emissions and risks. The risks of materials replacing conventional plastics should also be investigated, in order to ensure their safe use and to prevent soil quality and fertility from degrading in the long term.
The project aims to identify the major sources of micro-plastics emissions to agricultural land, assess the effects of micro-plastics and plastic substitutes in soil, and propose measures to reduce micro-plastic emissions. The proposed measures will be made available to stakeholders. The project will also help in the development of Finnish agricultural materials. Through the material tests carried out in the project and the test methods found to work in the project, safe, Finnish agricultural materials are obtained both for the domestic market and for export.
Keywords:
soil research, soil condition, risk management, environmental research
Responsible project leader:
Salla Selonen, Senior Researcher, Finnish Environment Institute
Person at Finnish Food Authority responsible for the project:
Liisa Maunuksela, Research Director
In cooperation with:
Finnish Environment Institute;
Natural Resources Institute Finland
Project status:
In progress
Year of commencement:
2020
Year of completion:
2023
Project is financed by:
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (Makera)