Why a strong global plastics treaty is essential for agricultural systems, food safety, food security and human health

Abstract An ambitious global plastics treaty is urgently needed to decrease soil pollution from microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs), originating both from intentional uses of agricultural plastics and from composts and sludges applied to soils, contaminated due to the increasing plastic production and use. The current narrative, biased by vested interests, overemphasizes short-term benefits of agricultural plastics, while ignoring their adverse effects. MNPs disturb invertebrate and pollinator behavior, affect nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration, decrease photosynthesis and plant growth, contribute to water and air pollution and may contaminate plants, crops and livestock. The thousands of chemicals contained in conventional and biodegradable or biobased plastics can leach into soil. By threatening ecosystem functioning and terrestrial food production, plastic pollution represents a challenge for food safety and human health and is a long-term threat to food security. To protect soils from plastic pollution, a strong global treaty is needed, with provisions on plastic production reduction, product design and regulation of plastic chemicals. Plastics’ essentiality, sustainability and safety criteria are needed in the agriculture sector – where plastics are used unsustainably and not all are essential – and in all sectors along the food production value chain (food processing, packaging).