New biodegradable films

Today, intensive agriculture practices imply the consumption of large quantities of plastic mulch films (about 100.000 tons/year in Europe). This has direct negative environmental and economic consequences.

With this background, Innovayt have worked with a group of SMEs and secured EU funding for an R&D project targeting the development of new biodegradable mulch films.

The new films have clear advantages for farmers, promoting highly productive farming practices while avoiding soil contamination and costs of residues management.

With the support of three qualified research organizations, and SMEs from Portugal, Norway, France and Spain, the EU consortium will together overcome technical barriers and develop a customized solution for specific crops and regions.  The films will integrate yield enhancer agents, for disease control, soil preparation and/or fertilization.

Studies will be conducted in four reference crops such as strawberries, melon, sweet-pepper and vineyards, and the new generation of mulch films is expected to start being commercialized by the end of the 2-year project.

Further information is available at www.agrobiofilm.eu.