Strategy for Reducing Agricultural and Livestock Inputs in Plant Nutrition
By 2050, the global population is projected to increase by one-third (2.3 billion), despite a lower growth rate compared to the past four decades. As the population grows, the demand for food is also expected to rise[1],[2]. Agricultural and livestock inputs are essential for improving crop yields because they provide crucial products for sowing, management and harvesting crops. These inputs play a range of vital roles in agricultural management, such as soil preparation, plant nutrition, crop protection from pests and improving crop quality.
Fertilising Products with Polymers
Compared to traditional EU fertilizers, polymer-based fertilising products could improve nutrient use and offer enhanced efficiency through controlled-release dosing mechanisms. Polymers are critical for improving product performance aligned with the goals of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for more sustainable and environmentally friendly farming practices. For example, polymer coatings create a moisture barrier that limits water penetration to prevent the rapid release of nutrients. Over time, factors such as temperature and humidity trigger nutrient release, thus making it possible to reduce fertilising product application rates by a factor of three compared to conventional nutrition methods.
To support these benefits, environmentally sustainable alternatives that are “microplastic-free” need to be developed and maintained in the market. The Socioeconomic Analysis Committee (SEAC)[3] has stated that proposed measures for agricultural and horticultural products would only be appropriate if biodegradable alternatives were available in the medium term. These alternatives must meet biodegradability criteria under specific environmental conditions while offering at least equivalent functionality.
Concerns About Microplastics
The widespread presence of small polymer fragments—whether natural, synthetic or chemically modified—that are insoluble in water and degrade very slowly raises environmental and potential human health concerns. Much microplastic pollution is unintentional and arises from the breakdown of larger plastic waste, tire and road paint wear and washing synthetic textiles. However, small polymer fragments are also intentionally manufactured for use in agricultural products to improve efficiency and reduce agricultural and livestock input needs.
Due to microplastics’ susceptibility to environmental degradation, deposition and transport, the ability to develop environmentally sustainable plasticulture products must become a priority to protect the environment while efficiently addressing the growing demand for food production. This ultimately involves improving the quality of life of both producers and consumers.
Polymers that are biodegradable in soil and aquatic environments are increasingly being used as alternatives for agricultural applications, especially in scenarios where recycling is a challenge, disposal practices are inefficient and end-of-life recovery is impractical.
AIMPLAS and the Regulatory Framework
The EU fertilizer regulation (Regulation (EU) 2019/1009)[4] requires fertilizers to consist solely of components that comply with the component material categories (CMC) outlined in Annex II. Regarding polymers, the European Commission has included scientific opinions from the Committee for Risk Assessment and the Committee for Socioeconomic Analysis of the European Chemicals Agency[6] pursuant to Regulation (EC) 1907/2006[5]. In January 2019, the Agency concluded that intentional release of synthetic polymer microparticles poses an uncontrolled environmental risk and recommended EU-wide measures. An estimated 42,000 tonnes of intentionally released microplastics are discharged into the environment each year.[7]
To address this problem, the Commission adopted Regulation (EU) 2023/2055[8], which introduces a general restriction under Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 on marketing synthetic polymer particles. This restriction includes a ban on marketing sectors where release is considered inevitable, as well as usage and disposal guidelines to minimize avoidable release.
Specifically, Annex XV proposed banning marketing any solid polymer contained in microparticles or microparticles with solid polymer surface coating in a concentration of ≥ 0.01% by weight. Exceptions include degradable polymers (that meet biodegradability criteria) and water-soluble/natural polymers that have not been chemically modified, given that they lack long-term persistence and do not pose the same risks.
Biodegradability Criteria and AIMPLAS Contributions
Annex XV outlines specific screening test methods for demonstrating the biodegradability of polymers in agricultural and horticultural applications. AIMPLAS contributed to defining these criteria through a scientific-technical study for the European Commission[9]. The criteria established in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2770[10] require that relevant polymers achieve:
- 90% degradation in soils within 48 months plus the product’s functionality period (FP) as indicated on the label;
- 25% aquatic degradation within 12 months after the product’s functionality period ends (for products with a functionality period of ≥ 6 months).
Additionally, Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 stipulates that the biodegradability criteria for mulch films be assessed and included them as CMC 9 materials. AIMPLAS also contributed to defining biodegradability criteria in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/2787[11], which stipulates:
- 90% soil degradation of mulch films within 24 months after the product’s functionality period ends.
- 30% aquatic degradation within 12 months relative to reference material degradation or at least 90% final degradation within 24 months plus the product’s functionality period.
Other Applications Besides Fertilizers
Annex XV also covers agricultural and horticultural products other than fertilizers that contain polymers, such as anti-dusting and anti-caking additives. These polymers function as technical additives rather than providing ongoing benefits after application to the soil.
To be considered degradable under Entry 78 (“Rules on proving de-gradability”), a polymer in non-fertilizer agricultural products must achieve:
- 90% degradation in soil within 48 months plus the product’s functionality period (FP) as indicated on the label;
- 90% degradation in water within:
- 12 months + functionality period (using Group 4 screening test methods).
16 months + functionality period (using Group 5 simulation test methods).
[1] HLEF. Global Agriculture Towards 2050. Available online: http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/templates/wsfs/docs/Issues_papers/HLEF2050_Global_Agriculture.pdf
[2] Ain, N.U.; Naveed, M.; Hussain, A.; Mumtaz, M.Z.; Rafique, M.; Bashir, M.A.; Alamri, S.; Siddiqui, M.H. Impact of Coating of Urea with Bacillus-Augmented Zinc Oxide. Plants 2020, 9, 1375.
[3] Committee for Socio-Economic Analysis – Comité de Análisis Socioeconómico de la Agencia Europea de Sustancias y Mezclas Químicas (ECHA, por sus siglas en inglés: European Chemicals Agency).
[4] Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 June 2019, establishing rules on the marketing of EU fertilising products, amending Regulations (EC) No 1069/2009 and (EC) No 1107/2009, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 2003/2003 PE/76/2018/REV/1. OJ L 170, 25.6.2019, pp. 1–114. (http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1009/oj)
[5] Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), establishing the European Chemicals Agency, amending Directive 1999/45/EC, and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 793/93 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1488/94 as well as Council Directive 76/769/EEC and Commission Directives 91/155/EEC, 93/67/EEC, 93/105/EC, and 2000/21/EC.
[6] Annex XV Restriction Report. https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/05bd96e3-b969-0a7c-c6d0-441182893720
[7] ECHA (2020). Reference document for the opinion on the Annex XV report proposing restrictions on intentionally added microplastics. https://echa.europa.eu/documents/10162/b56c6c7e-02fb-68a4-da69-0bcbd504212b
[8]Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/2055 of 25 September 2023 amending Annex XVII to Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) with regard to synthetic polymer microparticles.
[9] GROW/2021/OP/0005 – Study to assess biodegradability criteria for polymers used in EU fertilising products as coating agents or to increase the water retention capacity or wettability and of mulch films.
[10] COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2024/2770 of 15 July 2024 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council regarding the biodegradability criteria for coating agents and water-retaining polymers.
[11] COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) 2024/2787 of 23 July 2024 amending Regulation (EU) 2019/1009 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the inclusion of mulching plastics in component material category 9.
Elena Domínguez · Control Release and Soil Quality AIMPLAS Group
