Farmers using plastic mulch film now have a compostable alternative that returns to the earth as organic matter instead of polluting soil with microplastics that remain for decades, even centuries.
An Australian made, compostable agricultural film called BioAgri can be customised for farmers by Adelaide-based BioBag World Australia.
In a circular story, the BioAgri film helps to grow fresh produce transported from farms to retailers in compostable carton liners recycled in green bins or compost bins.
Retailers are offering customers compostable produce bags designed to capture and recycle inedible waste back into compost.
BioBag World Australia Director Scott Morton is transitioning his plastics factory in Adelaide to compostable alternatives including agricultural mulch film, modified atmosphere packaging and retail produce rolls.
“Some retailers in Adelaide are trialling replacing plastic produce rolls with compostable BioBags.
“Research shows this increases the amount of food waste making its way into organics recycling streams, instead of going to landfill,” said Mr Morton.
“So the loop is complete because that compost goes back to farmers and greatly increases their yield.”
Only 5.2 percent of plastic used in agriculture is recycled, according to the Australian Plastics Recycling Survey 2016-17.
The domestic problem is huge, there is just way too much plastic.
BioAgri solves many problems farmers have using plastic mulch film to protect their crops, Mr Morton says.
“If a small farmer uses 50 kilometres of plastic film in a 12 week growing season, that would equate to a semi trailer worth of scrap plastic that’s too contaminated to recycle and too expensive to transport to a recycler.
“So how are farmers supposed to recycle used plastic film? A compostable film can be returned to the earth as organic matter, so they just replace it instead of having to remove it from the soil and dispose of it,” Mr Morton said.
BioAgri makes work easier for farmers because it returns to the earth as organic matter that can be ploughed into the soil at the end of a crop growing cycle.
Compostable mulch film can be laid with the same equipment used for traditional plastic film and customised for different climates and crops.
“Certified to the same standard as BioBags supplied to residents through a growing number of metropolitan councils, BioAgri leaves no toxic residues.
“Advantages for farmers include increased soil temperatures, faster germination and cultivation cycles, long-term nutritious soil and reduced water consumption.
“BioAgri eliminates or reduces the need for herbicides and pesticides by suppressing weeds and keeping fertilisers and nutrients closer to plants. It also prevents fruits and vegetables from coming into direct contact with the soil and keeps moisture and heat in the soil so crops grow faster,” Mr Morton said.
Heartland magazine featured a story on how BioAgri gives farmers a plastic alternative.
See the BioAgri information here on our website for more.
