MINAGRIS was represented at the Joint International Conference of MikroBioKosmos Society & CEESME last month by Stathis Lagos and Eleni Lamprou in September. It's fantastic to see our researchers hard at work sharing new research to audiences across Europe 👏👏👏 #mbkceesme2025 #soilscience

A review of available scientific data has revealed that far from plastic being an 'inert' material, the level of additives/chemicals in plastics is causing problems across the globe. Read the journal article here: buff.ly/i3X6Wgi and a short summary article here: buff.ly/SV5maeX

Last week MINAGRIS held its fourth General Meeting in Vienna. The main takeaways? Some great research is emerging on plastics and soil microbiome, plastics in real-world farming conditions, and what to do at the policy and practice level. Here are the assembled troops of committed scientists 🔬🧪💪

At the 4th General Assembly of @minagriseu.bsky.social, the #SoilPlastic #CitizenScience App was also in focus: a mobile App for documenting plastic waste on agricultural fields: www.spotteron.net/apps/horizon... #HorizonEurope #Soil #Microplastics #Nanoplastics #Agriculture

The FAO has published a major new report on the state of agricultural soils. #Microplastics can change the properties of soil and get into plants via root systems, say the authors. #soilscience Read our summary with links to the full report: buff.ly/GWdfvsl

In our new blog, we explore what happened at the talks, why plastic pollution is contributing to transgressing planetary boundaries, and the five things a coalition of the willing (that's you, too!) can do to create a critical mass for change. buff.ly/czdIbbf #microplastics #globalplasticstreaty

Do you want to help us by doing some citizen science? We launched the SoilPlastic app to help us track plastic sightings in soils, and we hope to tell a story about the extent of plastic waste in our soils. Download the app now - buff.ly/0OZT8Zu - and make a difference. See how it works 👇

In case you missed it, here's our fifth MINAGRIS briefing, covering the potential for global plastics policy development, an interview with Giulia Carcasci from the FAO, and everything we've been up to 2024-5. Find it here: buff.ly/gCXu1Ll #microplastics #soilscience #horizoneurope

Investigating the impact of microplastics in combination with common farm chemicals is a lot of work. Here are Esperanza Huerta Lwanga and Nicolas Beriot are doing field work in the Netherlands. Let’s give them a massive thanks for all the work they do! #soilscience

Industrial societies have produced over 100 million novel entities, with anywhere between 35,000 and 400,000 currently in use (Guardian). Their prevalence has exceeded planetary boundaries into the risk zone. Read the full report from Deep Science Ventures: buff.ly/28hCxgc

A new study has shown that humans can inhale as much as 68,000 microplastic particles daily. Smaller particles can find their way into many parts of our bodies, affecting our health, the soil and ecosystems. Read the article below 👇

What happens to a soil organism, Springtails, when different types of #microplastics are combined with common farm chemicals? The results show that biodegradable plastics are not as harmless as they seem. Read our factsheet here: buff.ly/RitNwAt #soilscience

Biodegradable plastic film (PBAT) is often posed as an alternative to conventional plastics for agricultural use. But how does it affect soil and plant growth? Here's what research supported by MINAGRIS found: buff.ly/tFBSKY5 #soilscience

What are the effects of #plastics, and the chemicals it contains, on human and planetary health? The Lancet is planning to track this through their Countdown on Health and Plastics. Read more about this important initiative here: buff.ly/zaOHmYS

The latest failure of the #GlobalPlasticsTreaty is disappointing but not unexpected - the latest example of the collapse of the multilateral order, the political polarisation of sustainability agendas and the consequent spread of misinformation. What can we do? See below 👇

This sweeping French scientific review shows how microplastics are affecting agricultural soils and argues for a shift of thinking away from recycling towards prevention and the development of viable alternatives. Read the summary and full report here: buff.ly/flwJFDp

The #microplastic journey...through water, soil, what we eat, in our bodies, and more 🍎🥕🥬. This article from The Guardian tells the story of how #plastic moves through ecosystems from a simple act like washing an acrylic jumper. Read more here:

❓ How do #microplastics affect soil invertebrates - earthworms, woodlice, spiders, springtails, mites, and some insects 🪱🐛🕷️ Research shows it makes them sick, gives them inflammation, gut damage, affects their immune system and more. Read more here:

We assume that #biodegradable #plastics are better for the soil, but are they? This article reveals negative impacts on soil nitrogen levels. MINAGRIS is considering the benefits against risks, and also factor in action at every stage of the lifecycle of plastics. #soilscience

Our latest biannual briefing is out, including interviews and articles with policymakers and thinkers about how to create sustainable #plastics policies and regulations in this era of polarisation. Download here 👉 buff.ly/qfASiJ5 #soilscience

Some bioplastics labelled as compostable are causing headaches at compost facilities globally 🌍 In this article on the US, poor regulation of terms like 'compostable' mean unwanted #microplastics are finding their way into compost.

What do testicles, clouds, beer and arctic ice all have in common? These are all places you might find #microplastics. Check out this handy explainer on what they are, where they're found, and even how they interact with our #climate here: buff.ly/MJP9cxl

We love to share breakthroughs from other teams. This research has found a new way of isolating plastisphere-soil (bug communities living off plastic waste), which could be a foundation for finding which ones can eat plastic 🦠. Read the full article: buff.ly/LcIBsEU

MINAGRIS were hard at work at the regenerative agriculture festival #Groundswell25 last week sharing valuable information about the impact of #microplastics in agricultural soils - and particularly about our farmer's guidance on soil water repellency. #soilscience

MINAGRIS partner Dr Charlotte Chivers recently visited the Cartagena region of Spain, an area characterised by arid conditions, water scarcity and increasing desertification. She talks about why the widespread use of #plastics in #agriculture might be a problem. #soilscience

Research led by Professor Edoardo Puglisi (also a MINAGRIS PI) of the Catholic University, Piacenza campus has found around 20 species of PFAS-eating bacteria 🦠. Read more here (translations available): buff.ly/W3Peyvb #microplastics #foreverchemicals #soilscience

Earthworm casts are really important for soil health because earthworms, as they eat, poop and wriggle about in the soil, they produce casts that are full of nutrients that go into the soil. Are these earthworm casts affected by #microplastics? This is what we found.... #soilscience

Farmer's use slurry as a cost-effective way of fertilising fields with organic matter. But slurry can be contaminated with PFAS or forever chemicals, and #microplastics. The revelation reveals why science is important - to investigate the problem and offer solutions🔬.

The MINAGRIS team interviewed 133 farmers across Europe to ask them about plastic use and recycling on their farms. 47% said their plastic use was either very severe or quite severe, with only 9% saying it was non-existent. Read the complete research buff.ly/UMWcyj0 #soilscience

Vehicle tyres are creating a soil microplastics problem 🚛. New research analysed the concentration of tyre wear particles on quiet roads in Switzerland and found large concentrations of particles. Read more in our new factsheet - link below #soilscience buff.ly/MqrtwbU

Can #microplastics with #desertification collide? Farmers use plastic mulches to retain water and suppress weeds. But over the long term, could this increase the problem of arid land? Read our blog to find out more: buff.ly/78tZNDK

We know about microplastics coming from packaging, mulches & agricultural films to name a few. But what about tyres? 🚛 🚜 In this video, MINAGRIS scientist Dominka Kundel talks about the tyre wear particles infiltrating roadside soils.

❓ What is MINAGRIS's mission? ✔️ Science, of course. ✔️ Innovation...critical. ✅ But importantly, we want to advise farmers about what microplastics do to soils and how to reverse it. Our policy lead, Ildikó Heim, talks about why engaging stakeholders is so vital 🤝.

It's estimated that greenhouse, mulching & silage films are going to increase globally by 50% in five years. It's vital that we come up with alternatives and soon. This 2023 UN FAO article explores the options using circular bioeconomy principles 🌍 buff.ly/nIkZcSN

❓ Plants and crops need water to grow. What happens when soil becomes less able to absorb and hold water? ✔️ Crops will be less successful or fail altogether, risking food security. Read our research on how microplastics affect the soils ability to hold water: buff.ly/uk1dGoU 🌱 #soilhealth

Knowledge is power. At MINAGRIS, we’re digging deep into how plastic affects soil. But how can you help? We created the SoilPlastic app so citizens – yes, that’s you - can record sightings of plastic waste in agricultural soils. Find out more 👇 #citizenscience #plasticpollution #microplastics

MINAGRIS's Ildiko Heim talks about why simple solutions aren't always the best ones. Why? One reason is so that we don't replace one problem with another. Listen to Ildiko 👇 #plasticpollution #microplastics

When farm plastic recycling goes wrong - we spoke to Jackie Flannery of the Irish Rusal Association about stockpiling of plastic waste in Ireland, why the system isn't working, and what reforms farmers want. #recycling #plasticpollution Read the blog 👉 buff.ly/bF86Rjx

This review of where we are with understanding #agriplastics explores, among other things, why we need to orientate plastics production and waste management around co-design🤝🌏 #plasticpollution #soilscience Find it here:

Ever wondered what soil scientists get up to? Here's our MINAGRIS researchers hard at work ploughing, sampling and sewing maize seeds to help us all understand what plastics are doing to the soil. #soilscience #microplastics #plasticpollution

We love to share good news from other researchers. This latest paper replicated the real action of microplastics on soils. It showed microplastics minimally affect the soil micropore at low levels, meaning remedies are possible. Read the research 🔬 buff.ly/3OFFWnI

We were delighted to be invited into BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Breakfast show to talk about all things microplastic 🎉 Listen to our audio interview over on YouTube 👉 buff.ly/I6cD3w0 #microplastics #nanoplastics #horizoneurope #agriculture #farming #soilhealth

Understanding soil biology is critical for monitoring #soilhealth, helping us detect pollutants in soil and predicting how a whole system will react to them. Dr Sonia Meller of Digit Soil explains more in this short video 📽️

Did you know that chewing gum contains microplastics? And when you throw chewing gum away, it breaks down over time into tiny plastic fragments that remain in the ground. These particles can end up in our soils and potentially in the crops we eat. Read the research 👉 buff.ly/PWJEtEp #soilhealth

Don't want to miss the latest research coming from MINAGRIS? We're starting a monthly newsletter to make sure our research on how microplastics impact agricultural soil health gets in the right hands. #microplastics #plasticpollution Sign up here: buff.ly/duTvzEY

Microplastic pollution from agriculture use affects soil's ability to retain water, which can lower crop yield, new research from MINAGRIS shows. We've produced a guide for #farmers and land managers on how you can test for soil water repellency. Read it here: buff.ly/HSTkbGp #soilscience

Plastic mulch is widespread in agriculture, helping to protect soil from pests & weeds & helping to limit evaporation. But what’s the cost? This informative article sets out what’s happening to our soils as plastic degrades. #microplastics buff.ly/vYONXJ6

We welcome the United Nations’ FAO has developed a Voluntary Code of Conduct (VCoC) on the sustainable use and management of plastics in agriculture 🌍🤝. In this new article by @Ildiko-heim, we look at what the VCoC is all about. #microplastics buff.ly/oHOw1X9

Want to help scientists collect data about plastics in #agricultural soils? Download our SoilPlastic App now and be part of a science-informed movement to tackle the pressing problem of #plasticpollution. #citizenscience #horizoneu buff.ly/N7LH0Nc

We're only just finding out about unusual sources of microplastics in soils. One of these is sewage sludge, says a longitudinal study by @hutton.ac.uk. #plasticpollution #agriculture Read more 👇