Scientific evidence and policy implications on agri-plastic management for agrifood systems
Informal briefing
Hybrid Event, 02/10/2025
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Joint briefing organized by the FAO Liaison Office in New York (LON), Liaison Office in Geneva (LOG), and the Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB), in collaboration with the FAO Liaison Office in Brussels (LOB)
Informal briefing: Scientific evidence and policy implications on agri-plastic management for agrifood systems
Thursday, 2 October 2025, 9:30 – 11:00 EDT / 15:30 – 17:00 CEST
Background
Plastic products are widely used across agriculture, bringing efficiency gains in food production, but at the cost of increasing environmental risks. In August 2025, FAO released a new report highlighting the most recent scientific evidence on the impacts of plastics in soil and food systems, as well as their implications for plant, animal, and human health. The publication synthesizes cutting-edge research, offering a comprehensive overview of risks and areas of uncertainty, and aims to support informed decision-making across the agrifood policy spectrum.
The report launch offers a timely opportunity to discuss how emerging evidence on plastic use in agriculture can support international and national policy actions. While broad consensus was not reached during the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC 5.2) in Geneva to establish an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution, the pursuit of such a global framework remains essential for coordinated and accountable action. Sector-specific initiatives and stakeholder-led commitments, however, are equally indispensable; they allow for targeted, context-responsive solutions and foster innovation at the national and community levels. In agriculture, diverse actors continue to advance national measures and collaborative projects, illustrating how sectoral action and stakeholder engagement can work in tandem with efforts toward a comprehensive treaty to address plastic pollution effectively.
For agriculture—the foundation of global food security—the stakes could not be higher. Farmers, governments, international organizations, and businesses are already shaping innovative responses, from developing biodegradable alternatives to scaling circular economy models. By linking sectoral action with global negotiations, this dialogue aims to chart pathways toward agrifood systems that are not only productive and resilient but also free from plastic pollution.
Event objectives
Present key findings of FAO’s recent knowledge products on the impacts of plastics in agriculture
Share updates and reflections from INC-5.2
Facilitate Member State dialogue on national actions and international collaboration
Agenda
Moderator, Ms Angélica Jácome, Director of the FAO Liaison Office to the UN in New York
Welcome remarks: Mr Dominique Burgeon, Director of the FAO Liaison Office in Geneva
Overview of INC-5.2: Ms Shuang Zhu, Programme Management Officer, Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC) Secretariat
Setting the Stage: Agri-plastics in global plastic discussions: Dr Tetsuya UETAKE, Director for Multilateral Affairs and Agri-environmental Issues, Export and International Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan
Plastics in agrifood systems and highlights from FAO’s new report on microplastic pollution in soil: Ms Giulia Carcasci, Agricultural Plastics and Sustainability Specialist, Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment of FAO
The project MiCoS: from monitoring microplastics to environmental toxicity: Prof. Caroline De Tender , Department of biochemistry and microbiology, Ghent University
Plastic mulch substitute in Ghana: Dr Ebenezer Laryea, Project Director at FRESHPPACT & Reader in Sustainable Development Law at Aston University
Moderated discussion and interventions from the floor
Closing remarks: Mr Raschad Al-Khafaji, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the European Union and Belgium