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

Of course. The data collected so far show that plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental problems we face. Moreover, it also affects human health and new consequences for the health of future generations are sure to be discovered.
 

How can this problem be addressed from your research area ?

It is certain that the accumulation of plastic particles in water and soils interferes with plant nutrition and, consequently, with plant physiology, as well as with the microbiota present in the rhizosphere. Any change induced on this microbiota has repercussions on plants.
 

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?

Although we are not currently developing research related to plastic pollution and its impact on plants, we are aware of the problems caused by the indiscriminate use of plastics. For this reason, we try to recycle as much as possible all the objects made with these products that we use in our experimental designs, including pots and plates. In the laboratory, glass is used more than plastic and, whenever possible, we choose glass as a covering for the greenhouses in which we work.

* Nieves Goicoechea holds a PhD from the University of Navarra. Learn more about her research.