Microplastics in agroecosystems-impacts on ecosystem functions and food chain

This work reviews microplastic's impact on agroecosystem components and possible effects on the food chain. Microplastics are sized < 5 mu m, made up of diverse chemical constituents, and come from several sources. The agroecosystems reportedly receive an estimated 1.15 to 2.41 million tonnes of plastic wastes annually. Microplastic factors like increasing anthropogenic activities, tiny sizes, ubiquity, sheer volume, and composite chemicals greatly influence the environment. Their impact could be directly on the food substances or indirectly on the ecosystems that support the primary producers of the food chain: alters plant's growth and developments, blocks organisms' digestive/roots system, attachment for multiplying organisms, vectors of toxic compounds, disrupts the activities of microbial decomposers and nutrient cycles, etc. Microplastic contamination of the agroecosystems reduce food yields, impact the food chain components negatively, food security, and human health. The adoption of regenerative agriculture is staging the cultivation of food substances away from contaminable systems while using sustainable sources of water and minerals. The consequences of increasing microplastic volume and attendant impacts make researchers evaluate alternative solutions for microplastic abatement: bio-based plastics and the adoption of clean remedial biotechnologies. These alternate solutions are expedient as the total elimination of plastic (microplastic) waste may not be fully feasible- considering their recalcitrance and non-biodegradability. Also, policymakers should promulgate laws that mitigate and replace single-use and non-biodegradable plastic materials with bio-based or biodegradable alternatives.

Automated summary

This study reviews the impacts of microplastics on agroecosystems and the food chain, highlighting their effects on plant growth, food chain components, food security, and human health. Measures to reduce microplastic pollution and promote regenerative agriculture with sustainable resources are crucial in mitigating these negative impacts.