Do you consider it important to focus on the fight against plastic pollution?

Absolutely, in many areas of daily activity a large amount of non-biodegradable plastic waste is generated. Although we are gradually becoming aware of this and are beginning to see a trend towards reducing its use and discarding it, on many occasions the alternative is more costly financially or simply does not exist. It is essential to raise awareness and encourage both the population and companies to adopt more sustainable habits and solutions.
 

How can this problem be addressed from your research area ?

In our group we are working on the development of new fertilizer formulations in which the nutrient is protected against losses and is released gradually without the need to resort to plastic coatings. In this way, we contribute to reduce the use of non-biodegradable polymeric materials in agriculture, promoting more sustainable practices.
 

Are you participating in any project related to this issue? Tell us briefly! If not, what project or idea would you like to implement to tackle plastic pollution?

Currently, the PRETHINKULAR project is evaluating the impact of the use of plastics in agriculture, and how the remains of these plastics age or degrade in the soil. In addition, we are working on several projects that use non-polymeric matrices to include nutrients and biostimulants, while revaluing by-products from the agri-food industry. In the future, one of the projects we are considering is based on the development of fertilizers with biodegradable coatings from the fermentation of organic by-products.

* Marta Fuentes is a researcher at BIOMA Institute. Learn more about her research.