We’re thrilled to share a brand new chapter in our sustainability journey: we’ve joined forces with certainly one of our valued prospects and BASF to boost farming practices in our strawberry farms in Huelva, Spain, with a holistic answer that mixes a licensed soil biodegradable mulch movie and a sophisticated water administration technique. This partnership goals to do extra than simply undertake a sustainable various to traditional plastic mulch movies and improve water administration; it’s about decreasing the environmental footprint of our strawberry cultivation to fulfill client expectations and drive long-term enterprise success. For our main strawberry growers, this can be a likelihood to spearhead sustainable farming, aligning with SVZ’s values and dedication to a extra accountable provide chain. We’ll be preserving you knowledgeable on our progress, so be sure to keep tuned for thrilling updates!
The impression of plastics on agricultural practices
Launched within the mid-Nineteenth century within the USA to spice up effectivity and crop yields, the usage of plastics in agriculture – generally known as “agri-plastics” – steadily changed conventional supplies like glass and paper.[1]
As of 2021, an estimated 713,000 tonnes of latest plastics had been launched into the European market, with 76% of this quantity consisting of movies. [2] In agriculture, plastic movies are usually used to enhance crop manufacturing by modifying soil temperature, decreasing erosion, controlling weeds and pests, retaining moisture, and defending vegetation from a number of brokers.
Strawberry cultivation, particularly in Huleva, Spain, closely depends on standard plastic mulching. Nonetheless, not like greenhouse plastic movies, which are sometimes reusable, mulch movies are usually single-use and pose important environmental challenges, together with non-biodegradable waste accumulation, soil contamination from microplastics, destructive impression on biodiversity and water air pollution.[3] Managing agri-plastics waste can be a problem as a consequence of monetary and technical constraints.
The excellent news is that we’re working to verify alternate options turn out to be a actuality! A soil biodegradable mulch movie gives a promising answer to those challenges. It’s estimated that biodegradable merchandise for mulching movies and horticulture twine purposes solely make up lower than 1% of the mulch movies utilized in agriculture.[4] By main the shift from plastic mulch movies to a licensed soil biodegradable mulch movie and optimising the usage of water on the similar time, we intention to scale back the environmental impression of the Spanish strawberry trade whereas sustaining productiveness and enhancing ecosystem well being.
Advocating for change: rethinking plastic mulch
At SVZ, we’ve lengthy been conscious of the environmental toll of plastic mulching and the pressing want for a extra sustainable various that can be commercially viable for farmers. In 2020, we launched into a journey to discover a higher answer. Our first step was experimenting with paper-based mulch, however after difficult trials through the 2020-21 and 2021-22 harvests that didn’t produce the specified impact, we knew we wanted to check a unique materials. That’s after we turned to BASF’s licensed soil biodegradable biopolymer ecovio®. Within the 2022-23 harvest, we examined the sturdiness of licensed soil-biodegradable mulch movies constituted of ecovio® all through the season in natural fields, with promising outcomes, and we’re excited to develop the venture to traditional farming for the 2024-25 season with the assist of our partnership with BASF and SVZ’s buyer.
Our earlier testing pilots revealed a number of key advantages, together with important discount in plastic waste and environmental air pollution, and doubtlessly diminished post-harvest labour since guide removing is now not wanted. Whereas we work below the belief that these advantages are achievable, with our partnership, we’re pushed to show them scientifically. This shift not solely underpins a extra sustainable agriculture programme but in addition helps compliance with present and future stringent sustainability laws and requirements.
Maximizing farm effectivity by way of water
Water is a necessary component in strawberry cultivation – and a extremely beneficial useful resource in drought-prone nations resembling Spain – so we couldn’t roll out this venture with out creating a considerate technique to optimise water utilization. Along with our native companion AgroIntelligence, we’re setting a baseline for water consumption through the soil preparation cycle. This cycle is important as a result of it’s estimated to account , but it’s usually ignored in agronomic recommendation. By specializing in the vital phases of soil preparation, ridging, and mulching, we intention to optimise water use by way of detailed planning and real-time information assortment. Our purpose is to develop a sustainable water administration technique that not solely conserves sources but in addition improves total farm effectivity all through the rising season.
Trying ahead to the primary outcomes
Whereas the dearth of testing in standard farming might current a market barrier, we see the usage of the licensed soil biodegradable mulch movie as a singular alternative. Nonetheless, this shift will not be with out its challenges. Transitioning to soil biodegradable mulch movie, for instance, might include the next preliminary value in comparison with standard plastic movies. In Spain, the place strawberry farming historically depends on standard mulching strategies, shifting in the direction of plastic-free farming necessitates not solely a monetary funding but in addition focused incentives to assist farmers by way of this transformative journey.
We imagine the long-term rewards can far outweigh these upfront bills. Advantages like diminished waste administration prices, improved crop yields, potential water financial savings, and enhanced model worth make this funding worthwhile. Contemplating these elements, the upper preliminary value of the soil biodegradable mulch movie turns into a strategic funding in our provide chain.
Shut collaboration with farmers testing the licensed soil-biodegradable mulch movies fabricated from BASF’s ecovio® in standard farming settings can even be essential to our venture’s success. By adopting this biodegradable various to conventional plastic mulch movies, our growers won’t solely domesticate strawberries but in addition nurture a future the place each berry harvested displays our deep dedication to the planet. So, keep tuned for the preliminary outcomes!
[1] Le Moine, B., Ferry, X., Plasticulture: financial system of sources. Acta Hortic., 1252 (2019), pp. 121-130, https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1252.17
[2] EIP-AGRI Focus Group Lowering the plastic footprint of agriculture, 2021, eip-agri_fg_plastic_footprint_minipaper_b_final.pdf (europa.eu)
[3] Salama, Okay.; Geyer, M. Plastic Mulch Movies in Agriculture: Their Use, Environmental Issues, Recycling and Options. Environments 2023, 10, 179. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10100179
[4] Ibid, eip-agri_fg_plastic_footprint_minipaper_b_final.pdf (europa.eu)
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