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

A call from 12 researchers for serious consideration of the problem of plastic pollution of agricultural soils

“Before the next session of the negotiation of the Global plastics treaty (INC5.2), we draw attention to the independent scientific knowledge on the negative impacts of plastics on soils health, food safety in the short term and food security in the long term, and on human health.“

An ambitious global plastics treaty is urgently needed to decrease soil micro-and nanoplastics (MNP) pollution, originating from the intentional use of agricultural plastics and composts and sludges applied to soils, which are contaminated owing to the increasing plastics production and use. In the context of the forthcoming negotiation sessions for a Global Plastic Pollution Treaty to be held in Geneva in August, twelve researchers wrote the call, amongst them Etienne Dufour, Associate to Géographie-cités’ Laboratory (France).

The current narrative, biased by vested interests, overemphasizes short term benefits of agricultural plastics, while ignoring their adverse effects. MNPs disturb invertebrate and pollinator behaviour, 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 plastics pollution, a strong global treaty is needed, with provisions on plastics production reduction, product design, and regulation of plastics chemicals. Plastics essentiality, sustainability and safety criteria are needed in the agriculture sector, where plastics are used unsustainably and are not all essential, and in all sectors along the food production value chain (food processing, packaging).

A strong global plastics treaty is needed to end plastics pollution threatening food safety now and food security on the long-term, taking in consideration decreasing soil health. Reduction of plastics production with global targets, improvement of product conception, and regulation of harmful plastics chemicals are needed in the agriculture sector, where plastics are used unsustainably and are not all essential, as well as in all sectors along the food production value chain (food processing, food packaging, etc.).

Global, harmonized and science-based criteria and standards for evaluating plastics essentiality, sustainability and safety for the environment and human health would benefit the evaluation of plastics used in agriculture and their alternatives. Monitoring existing plastics pollution is crucial to avoid food production on highly polluted soils and to minimize transfers to other environmental compartments. A decrease in plastics consumption will reduce pollution of the first receptors of plastics pollution, the soils.

Marie-France Dignac, Melissa Bakhos, Susanne Brander, Gabin Colombini, Megan Deeney, et al.. Why a strong global plastics treaty is essential for agricultural systems, food safety, food security and human health. Cambridge Prisms: Plastics, 2025, pp.1-13. ⟨10.1017/plc.2025.10006⟩. ⟨halshs-05137035⟩