EUBP Talk #5: Material Solutions – Bioplastics Beyond Packaging: Agriculture

Agriculture is on the front line of climate change, soil degradation and resource scarcity. Farmers are under pressure to increase productivity while reducing environmental impact, improving soil health and complying with evolving regulatory frameworks. Material choices in the field are becoming a critical factor. Bioplastics are playing an increasingly important role in soil related applications. From biodegradable mulch films to compostable agricultural materials, biobased solutions are designed to deliver agronomic performance while addressing end of life challenges directly in the soil. Yet key questions remain. What do farmers expect from bioplastics in soil applications? How do these materials behave under real field conditions? And how can fragmentation and mineralisation be reliably assessed? This edition of the EUBP Talks brings together perspectives from the farming community, material developers and industry experts. The session will explore practical expectations from farmers, recent updates and new applications in biodegradable and compostable agricultural materials, and the scientific understanding of fragmentation and mineralisation processes in soil biodegradable mulch films. Join us to gain a comprehensive view of how bioplastics are supporting more sustainable agricultural practices. Whether you are active in agri inputs, materials development, soil science, policy, sustainability strategy or farming, this session will provide grounded insights and evidence-based perspectives. Sustainable agriculture starts from the soil. Ready to rethink materials from the ground up? Speakers: Expert Talk 1: Biodegradable and Compostable Materials for Agriculture. Updates and New Applications, Sara Guerrini, Novamont Expert Talk 2: Fragmentation and Mineralisation of Soil Biodegradable Mulch Films, Patrizia Schmidt, BASF