Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Call for submissions
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108

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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Dear Sir/ Madam,

Thank you very much for inviting us to provide a submissioin to this important activity. I hope that our extensive experience in the management of agricultural packaging over the last 25 years and mroe than 60 countries can help to build an effective and efficient code of conduct.

Yours sincerely,

Andrew Ward on behalf of CropLife International

 

 

See the attachments:

Thank you, the moderator, for allowing me to express my ideas here. You may note that biodegradable plastic for agricultural purposes is absent in Indian markets and quite unaffordable for poor Indian farmers. However, you may note that the overuse of PVC 'grow bags' has become broader in Indian villages, especially in Kerala, because a free supply of grow bags has become a common practice of local governments and the agricultural department of the state government.

Moreover, in many farms, plastic soil cover is used. Additionally, municipal waste recycling as compost in many places contains plastic material. The companies find it difficult to remove plastic waste from garbage, which they grind and mix with the biowaste. Therefore, the soil and agricultural fields receive vast amounts of plastic waste, directly or indirectly, which must be controlled and removed.

Therefore, we need to educate farmers to avoid plastics in farm fields seriously. Otherwise, it may affect food production and food quality.

The contribution from the Bio-Based and Biodegradable Industries Association UK, is one which has been widely shared among other associations globally representing the industrial sector producing bioplastics and other materials that have generally renewable feedstocks (plants, plant wastes) and are identified by certification attesting to the ability of these materials to biodegrade either in controlled conditions (such as composting) or in soil.

We wish to make absolutely clear that these materials do NOT include those which claim biodegradability through the addition of chemicals to normal plastics and are known under such terms as "oxodegradable", "oxobiodegradable", "biotransformed" "photo and enzyme -mediated polymers" and similar.  The use of these marketing terms is widely considered illegal and indeed the sale of these materials is restricted or banned in many jurisdictions globally as they provide no certified proof of assimilation by microbes within defined time spans (biodegradation) and leave traces of microplastics. These materials are also not recyclable with traditional plastics therefore we join with the multitude of entities globally calling for their use to be banned. Sadly the use of oxodegradable plastics in farming is still widespread.

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I appreciate the opportunity to make this submission and engage with the thought-provoking questions presented here. The questions were well-structured and comprehensive, allowing for a deep exploration of various topics. I found the experience to be highly educational, and I learned a great deal in the process. It's a fantastic platform for knowledge exchange and meaningful discussions. Thank you for providing this valuable resource!

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Dear all,

attached is our contribution to the consultation.

It is a focus group report conducted by the Department of Management - University of Bologna (Italy)  in May 2023 on a specific topic which is the use of bio-based and biodegradable plastics in agricultural mulch film.

The focus group is part of the H2020 BIO-PLASTICS EUROPE project. It was joined by top players and key experts in the agriculture value chain.

In line with the aim of the Code of Conduct, the focus group, in the form of a multi-stakeholder dialogue, addressed the key crucial points affecting the use of plastics in the agriculture sector.   

 Among the priorities, the most compelling are: 1. To increase farmers’ awareness about the impact of certain practices on the soil and human health 2. To define applications and contexts where conventional mulch films are still a valid option, provided that removal, collection and recycling are ensured 3. To invest in R&D to improve the technical characteristics of biodegradable mulch films 4. To introduce guidelines for better removal of conventional mulch films from soils 5. To establish mandatory or voluntary Extended Producer Responsibility schemes in each EU country.

Kindest regards,

Eleonora Foschi

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      Dear All, I would like to share mythought in this regard.

As of my experience, plastics as container of agricultural inputs both liquid and solid are very crucial but  the main problem appears in where and how to dump after use and sometimes it is used as household utensils.Therefore, I feel it is important  that there should be tailored guidelines with site specific contexts guidelines.This guideline should sssess the after use of plastic products from different country contexts and should give directions for developing country specific implementation guidelines