his online event was hosted by the Horizon 2020 projects MINAGRIS and PAPILLONS on the 17th Dec 2024.

Participants included high level stakeholders and experts working at a European or international level on aspects of agricultural plastics that impact the soil (plastic production, plastic alternatives, recycling, agricultural production, policy, campaigns).
The aim of the event was to present details about recent policy developments and to share project findings with these stakeholders and to ask for their feedback.
The agenda included:
A keynote talk: Global Plastics Treaty: where we are in the negotiations and what is the role of scientists in the negotiation and implementation process? Dr Marie-France Dignac, INRAE and Steering committee member of the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty
A presentation: The EU Soil Monitoring Law: implications for agricultural plastics and soil protection Luc Vernet, Secretary General, FamEurope
Presentations of MINAGRIS project findings and request for contributions to the development of outputs included:
- Developing policy guidelines: Introduction to agri-plastic related policy review. Preliminary findings and discussion. Ildiko Heim, FIBL, Austria
- Developing Best Available Techniques Reference Document (BREF) guidelines for the agri-plastics industry Sara Guerrini, Novamont
- Developing a Decision Support Tool in MINAGRIS Introduction to the aims of the DST and questions for participants Amila Abeynayaka, Technical University of Denmark
MINAGRIS and PAPILLONS are two multi-actor projects supported by the H2020 work programme to assess the ecological risks of pollution associated with agricultural plastics (AP). The two projects will establish an inventory of the uses of AP in Europe, explore the effects of AP on soil quality (soil biota, soil structure), and study fate, fragmentation, microbial colonisation and decay of AP in soil. They will conduct a sustainability performance assessment of AP use in comparison to alternative techniques, as well as carry out large scale dissemination of results and involvement of end-users.
Dr Marie-France Dignac is a research director at INRAE (Institute of Ecology and Environmental Sciences of Paris). Her research focuses on C dynamics in soils and on the influence of microplastics on soil biodiversity and biochemical cycles. She sits on the Steering committee member of the Scientists’ Coalition for an Effective Plastics Treaty.