Towards the development of a Voluntary Code of Conduct on the sustainable use of plastics in agriculture
The agricultural sector has witnessed a significant increase in the use of plastics, with an estimated 12.5 million tonnes of plastic products being utilized annually in plant and animal production[1]. Plastics have brought about numerous benefits in food production, such as improved crop yield and efficient water use. However, due to improper management and lack of access to adequate end-of-life management and infrastructure, plastic products used in agriculture are often discarded or abandoned in the environment, leading to potential harm to human health and the environment.
In 2021, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) conducted an in-depth assessment[2] that shed light on both the advantages and challenges posed by plastics in agriculture. The study emphasized the importance of striking a balance between the benefits and trade-offs of plastics used in agriculture, and highlighted the urgent need for global action, improved governance, and inter-sectoral collaboration to address the multifaceted issues surrounding plastic use in agrifood systems.
In line with the recommendations of FAO Council[3] FAO is working on the development of the Voluntary Code of Conduct on the sustainable use of plastics in agriculture (VCoC). The aim of the VCoC is to provide a policy framework in support of a sustainable use of plastics in agriculture and their alternatives, by assisting policy makers in creating and strengthening policies and strategies, and by providing the other stakeholders along the agri-food value chain recommendations and best practices.
The VCoC will address the sustainable use of plastics in agriculture in the context of agrifood systems transformation towards more efficiency, inclusivity, resilience, and sustainability. It will aim to better balance the benefits and trade-offs of the use of plastics in agriculture to contribute to food security, food safety, nutrition, human health, environmental sustainability and related dimensions of sustainable development (social, economic and environmental).
The consultation process for the development of the Voluntary Code of Conduct on the sustainable use of plastics in agriculture
To inform the development of the VCoC, FAO is carrying out inclusive and geographically representative consultations with a wide range of stakeholders. The consultation process included an Informal Briefing for FAO Members which took place in May 2023, a Global Expert Meeting held in June 2023, and six Regional Multi-Stakeholder Consultations taking place between September and November 2023.
This Call for submissions has been envisioned as a key component of the consultation process to allow a wide range of participants around a globe and across sectors to contribute their inputs towards the development of the VCoC. This call will remain available throughout the duration of the Regional Consultations, offering participants a chance to extend the discussion on the VCoC development and share their views and suggestions online through the FSN Forum.
FAO's Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) invites stakeholders to share good practices and lessons learned on the sustainable use of plastics and agriculture and their alternatives.
You are welcome to respond to any of the questions in the submission template, as per your interest and expertise. Your responses, alongside the feedback we gather during our ongoing webinar consultations, will help inform the first full draft of the VCoC.
Please use this submission template (available in English) to provide your feedback by answering questions in any of the six UN languages (English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese).
To take part in this Call for submissions, please get registered or login to your account on the FSN Forum; download the submission template and upload the completed submission form in the box “Post your contribution” on this webpage. For any technical support regarding downloading or uploading the submission form, please send an email to [email protected].
The Call for Submissions is open until November 7, 2023.
We look forward to receiving your valuable input and learning from your experiences.
Co-Facilitators:
- Lev Neretin, Environment Workstream Lead, Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, FAO
- Alashiya Gordes, Natural Resources Officer, OCB, FAO
- Marilique Nijmeijer, Associate Professional Officer, OCB, FAO
- Matteo Zandonella Bolco, Programme Management Specialist, OCB, FAO
- Giulia Carcasci, Agricultural Plastics and Sustainability Specialist, OCB, FAO
[1] FAO, 2021. Assessment of agricultural plastics and their sustainability. A call for action. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb7856en
[2] FAO, 2021. Assessment of agricultural plastics and their sustainability. A call for action. Rome. https://doi.org/10.4060/cb7856en
[3] FAO, 2022. Report of the Council of FAO. Hundred and Seventy-first Session https://www.fao.org/3/nl148en/nl148en.pdf
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Agriculture Plastics Environment Europe (APE Europe) is the professional body for non-packaging plastics used in agriculture for Europe. The association gather National Collection Schemes, raw material producers and converters with the mission to develop a coherent and sustainable management of agri-plastics, including standards, end-of-life management and integration of recyclates.
Dear Madam/Sir
In my opinion, an improvement in the use of plastics in agriculture can be achieved by improving the quality of plastics used, better collection and new technologies in processing plastics waste.
Regards,
Krystian Butlewski
Poland
Dear Sir
Thank you, for your consideration by the respective office.
Dear madam/Sir
I hope first of all I am congratulate to the (FSN) Coordinator body, I am engaging long time in agriculture's media sector, how I can contribution my role in agriculture sectors promotion. I came from yet still Agriculture family background. I recognize the about the agriculture value how is important for man. I wish in terms of play role in agriculture sector from my side.
Many many thanks FSN Coordinator body and All of world FSN Members, giving me opportunity space in consultation.
With best regards,
Dhanbahadur Magar
Chief Editor : Agriculture Journal monthly magazine
Program presenter : Agriculture base, Talk show program 'Our Agriculture, Our culture'
Program presenter : Indigenous ethnicity, mother Tongue, ''kanug vejha" In Indigenous Television Nepal
Informal : Researcher and commercialization : Pepino melon fruit first time in Nepal; www.krishijournal.com.np
Dear Madam / Sir,
Thank you very much for the opportunity offered to participate in detailing some elements related to a subject of great economic importance and public topicality, such as the issue of micro and nanoplastics and their impact on the environment, agricultural products and human health.
With respect for the quality of the approach,
Univ. Prof. Dr. Benone Ion Pasarin
Romania
博士 Dr. Santosh Kumar Mishra
With compliments,
Independent Researcher (Scholar): Retired from the Population Education Resource Centre, Department of Life Long Learning and Extension, S. N. D. T. Women’s University, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
CIPA (Comité International des Plastiques en Agriculture) is the professional association for plastics in agriculture, gathering researchers, national committees and industrials to develop sustainable plastic use, including the end of life management.
Following the different communications in congress and articles in Plasticulture Magazine, the CIPA has drafted a preliminary project of a global plasticulture strategy, inspired by what is already existing and the contribution of it network of experts in the field.
What are the chances of voluntary guidelines taking us somewhere near significant? (FAO has experience with other such...).
We/you are talking of the URGENT need for global action, improved governance... Our bodies are filling with microplastics.
We/you are talking about policies and strategies, and about providing duty bearers along the agri-food value chain recommendations and best practices. Recommendations are based on 'should' when we need 'must'. Voluntary guidelines do the former.
I can understand this may not be realistic, but FAO is the best multilateral organ we have (I hope) so they must call a spade a spade ....and fight for it. No shame if you are defeated by the you-know-who member states that ultimately call the shots.
Claudio in Ho Chi Minh City
PS: what about calling for shutting down plastic production from fossil fuels? Think AND ACT upstream.
With respect to all, I think that more sustainable solution innovations and implementations are needed for sustainable use of plastics in agriculture. As a part of these, I think the following initiatives could be implemented more worldwide.
1. Plastic return in farmers' water and soil is ultimately harmful for farmers. So introducing alternatives for minimizing plastic using as much as possible in all steps of the agricultural sector like supply chain to food presentation. For example,
the Plastic straw banning initiative in New York. I think jute straw could be processed such that it could be used as drinking straw instead of plastic straw. Eating cups, plates etc could be made more popular.
In this context, I would like to mention that Bangladesh’s resolution titled “Natural Plant Fibers and Sustainable Development” has been adopted by consensus in the plenary of the second committee of the 74th session of the UNGA.
This will pave the way for a stronger, effective, efficient global value chain for Jute, Abaca, Coir, Kenaf, Sisal, Hemp, Ramie etc and alter the harmful uses of plastic. Jute is considering important tools for a plastic pollution free world. More specialized environment friendly bags could be introduced for agricultural products.
2. Personal wheeled shopping trolleys with jute bags could be used for shopping. In some cases, wheeled Earthenware could be used for Formalin and other chemical free food reserving/presentation in streets or shops. It needs no electricity.
It's a matter of pleasure that Scientists are continuing research on Plastic eater bacteria. Scientists have discovered an environmentally friendly way to turn plastic waste into energy and
In a series of lab experiments, researchers in Singapore successfully converted plastic into formic acid — a chemical that can be used to generate electricity in power plants and electric cars." (Ref: https://nypost.com/2019/12/12/scientists-find-way-to-produce-electricity-with-plastic-waste/).
Diesel is now produced from multiple sources like diesel trees, coals, used vegetable oil, and even from plastic.
3. I think using plastic detection sensors for refusing plastic bottles in Beverage ATMs for soft drinks will be better for reducing plastic pollution by the beverage industries. Flammable plastic should not be kept in any Data Center or Data Recovery Site especially for the Agricultural sector.
4. Introducing some percent of money returned for returning Sold One Time Plastic to the shops and separate plastic garbage containers. Promoting more plastic recycling industries including Plastic and Electronics waste management for safely gold and other objects extraction around the globe with proper financial support.
5. Introducing more virtual sim, unique mobile charger and batter size,One smart card for all purposes with innovative information security like YLITIS (Worldwide Integrated Linguistic Information Technology for Information Security), Renewable energy powered smart Billboard is another sustainable opportunity against plastic used advertisements, globally use of plastics and glass fibre as additives for Road Surface Technology (RST) etc ultimately saves agricultural soil and water.
6. If needed, Plastic detection sensors and mobile apps could be used for removing plastics from all sorts of water like ponds, canals, rivers, oceans.
From various news media we have come to know that plastic pollution has been discovered in the Mariana trench, the deepest point of the ocean of the world. Plastic pollution in our oceans poses a real threat to whales and dolphins.
56% of all whale and dolphin species, from small fish-eating dolphins to the largest filter feeding whales, have been recorded eating marine plastics they've mistaken for food. Same scenario is happening to other fishes as well.
Plastic in the ocean is not only a threat to the environment but also the Blue economy that is ultimately SDGs. In this context, I would like to appreciate the initiative of observing Mariana Trench Day. On the other hand, like Mariana Trench of Pacific ocean, there is ‘Swatch of No Ground’ which is a seaward continuation for almost 2,000 km down the BAY OF BENGAL in the form of fan valleys with LEVEES [BANGLAPEDIA]. Swatch of no Ground is feeding the Bengal Fan by turbidity currents. Most of the sediment of the Bengal Deep Sea Fan has been derived from the confluence of GANGES and BRAHMAPUTRA rivers.
Bengal deep sea Fan and within its Swatch of No Ground of Bay of Bengal has more dimensions. Tears of people of Ganges and Brahmaputra river basin also involved to this issue because of
These river erosion makes thousands of people every year homeless, and ultimately they become well
established to internally displaced persons. Scientific research has shown that the Bay of Bengal dolphin has special significance. It’s a matter of pleasure that on the 24th of October, Bangladesh has celebrated the International Freshwater Dolphin Day 2018 for the first time,
gradually improving in garbage management system, promoting environment friendly jute bags instead of plastic, greening coastal region, planning for environment friendly land reclamation, top soil reservation, various acts for fish and water etc.
In addition, I think like Mariana Trench Day, Bengal deep sea Fan and Swatch of No Ground Day could be observed by its neighboring countries to all because of its significance.
Observing the day could promote awareness, environment friendly tourism, research, patronizing, and ultimately a blue economy.
7. More widely observing International Plastic bag free day, 23 October - International Mole Day ( https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mole_Day) etc for a plastic pollution free world.
8. Finally we all without discrimination have to be more united against plastic pollution in all sectors especially in the agricultural sector. Because it's a matter of the better existence of all living beings.
Buen día es de vital importancia el mejoramiento genético de nuestras semillas.
Es decir que si tenemos semillas más resistentes al hastío nuestros cultivos utilizarn menos agua y esto se refleja en el consumo de plásticos para la tecnificar los sistemas de riego, por otro lado la siembra de maíz con sero labranza, nos permite aprovechar mejor nuestros suelos y se obtienen más rendimientos ala cosecha, por último tiene que legislarse qué los plásticos qué se utizan en la agricultura sea completamente biodegradables.....
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