For years, the growing use of plastics in agriculture has
helped farmers increase crop production, improve food quality and reduce
the ecological footprint of their activity. Not only do plastics allow
for vegetables and fruits to be grown whatever the season, but these
products are usually of better quality than those grown in an open
field.
A wide range of plastics are used in
agriculture, including, polyolefin, polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene
(PP), Ethylene-Vinyl Accetate Copolymer (EVA), Poly-vinyl chloride (PVC)
and, in less frequently, Polycarbonate (PC) and
poly-methyl-methacrylate (PMMA). These plastics provide:
- Innovative and sustainable solutions: Thanks to
the use of different plastics in agriculture, water can be saved and
crops can even be planted in deserted areas. Plastic irrigation pipes
prevent wasting water and nutrients, rain water can be retained in
reservoirs built with plastics, and the use of pesticides to protect
crops from diseases can be reduced by keeping crops in a closed space
such as a greenhouse or, for mulching, under a plastic film. Moreover,
the emissions of pesticides in the atmosphere will be reduced as they
will remain fixed on the plastic cover.
- Recycling
and recovery opportunities: At the end of their life cycle,
agricultural plastics such as greenhouse covers can be recycled. Once
retrieved from the fields, plastics are usually washed to eliminate
sand, herbs and pesticides, grinded and extruded into pellets. The
material can then be used again in the manufacturing of articles such as
outdoor furniture. When recycling is not viable, energy can be obtained
from agricultural plastic waste in a process called co-combustion.
Key applications
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Greenhouses: Greenhouses are
like intensive-care units. Thanks to them, plants are exposed to the
sunlight and can grow in ideal conditions according to their
physiological properties. The use of greenhouses indeed provides farmers
with the possibility to create the appropriate environmental conditions
that plants require for faster and safer growth, to avoid extreme
temperatures and protect crops from harmful external conditions.
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Tunnels: Tunnels have the same features as
greenhouses, except for their complexity and their height. Crops that
are the most commonly cultivated in tunnels are asparagus, watermelon,
etc. |
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Mulching: Mulching or covering the ground with
plastic film helps maintain humidity as evaporation is reduced. It also
improves thermal conditions for the plant’s roots, avoids contact
between the plant and the ground and prevents weed from growing and
competing with for water and nutrients.
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Plastic reservoirs and irrigation systems: When
combined, plastic reservoirs and plastic irrigation systems make an
essential contribution to water management. Water can be stored in dams
covered with plastics materials to avoid leaking and distributed via
pipes, drop irrigation systems and systems for water circulation.
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Silage: This application, which was developed to
store animals’ grains and straw during the winter, is another proof of
the value of plastics. Plastic films used to store silage are resistant
and the content canbe stored for
years. |
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Other plastic applications include boxes; crates
for crop collecting, handling and transport; components for irrigation
systems like fittings and spray cones; tapes that help hold the aerial
parts of the plants in the greenhouses, or even nets to shade the
interior of the greenhouses or reduce the effects of hail
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