Cutting Plastic Pollution Across Global Food Systems

Plastic is embedded in every part of the food system.

Each year, more than 12.5 million tonnes of plastic are used in agriculture alone, while another 37 million tonnes are consumed in food packaging. Very little is recycled.

You don’t have to look far to see how plastic has become embedded in every corner of the food system: seedling trays, mulch films, irrigation tubing, shipping crates, cling wrap. And that’s all before products even hit the shelves. Plastic is efficient, cheap, and convenient. It helps protect crops and reduce food loss—but it doesn’t go away.

Plastic waste doesn’t disappear. Instead, it breaks down over years into particles too small to see. According to research by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), even tiny amounts of plastic can affect water retention, microbial activity, and plant growth. The research also finds that microplastics and associated chemicals can be absorbed by crops, potentially reaching edible parts.

These findings—due to be published in late 2025—underscore the urgent need to reduce plastic inputs in agriculture and protect the health of soil, crops, and consumers.

A Global Push to Reduce Agricultural Plastics

The FAO is working with governments, farmers, and industry leaders to reduce plastic waste. Solutions include smarter use of plastics, introducing sustainable alternatives, and encouraging practical on-the-ground changes that bring better production, nutrition, environment, and livelihoods—without hurting farmers’ profits.

As part of this response, the FAO has developed a Provisional Voluntary Code of Conduct for the sustainable use of plastics in agriculture. Built through consultations with scientists, producers, companies, and policymakers, it offers clear guidance: reduce where possible, reuse when practical, and recycle when safe. The code encourages a gradual transition away from single-use plastics while maintaining food security and protecting farmers’ incomes.

New Solutions: Bioplastics and Beyond

One promising area is the move toward bio-based and biodegradable materials, made from agricultural waste, natural polymers, or organic matter. Through bioeconomy-focused innovation, FAO supports farmers in adopting materials that safely break down and nourish the soil.

Consider the banana sector, where plastic bags, twine, and wraps have long been used in large-scale plantations. FAO’s World Banana Forum is working with farmers and researchers to share practical alternatives. As a result, plastic use is beginning to decline, and less waste is leaking into surrounding environments.

Pesticide containers are another major issue. Too often, they are burned or discarded in fields, releasing toxins into the soil and air. FAO is piloting safer disposal methods, like the triple-rinse technique, and helping countries establish recycling systems for hazardous agricultural waste.

Science and Monitoring

In partnership with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), FAO is developing advanced isotopic techniques to detect microplastics in soil. The goal is to standardize testing methods, allowing countries to measure contamination and take evidence-based action.

Microplastics have also been found in water, salt, fish, and vegetables. FAO continues to conduct reviews on how these particles move through food systems and what they may mean for human health—especially their potential effects on the gut microbiome. While research is ongoing, FAO is also improving testing tools and public awareness.

National Actions and Farmer-Led Solutions

Across the globe, national programs are changing how food is packaged and produced.

• In Sri Lanka, the CIRCULAR Project, funded by the European Union, is reducing single-use packaging and improving sustainable retail design.

• In Kenya and Uruguay, the FARM Project (Financing Agrochemical Reduction and Management) is promoting greener policies, technical support, and farmer outreach to shrink the plastic footprint of agriculture.

FAO’s Global Soil Doctors Programme, part of the Global Soil Partnership, trains farmers to manage soil pollution using practical, low-cost tools. This knowledge is shared across borders—one field at a time.

Beyond Land: Tackling Plastic in Oceans

Plastic pollution doesn’t end at the farm gate. Abandoned or discarded fishing gear—also called “ghost gear”—clogs marine ecosystems and hurts coastal economies. FAO has issued global guidelines on marking fishing gear to make it traceable and recoverable.

Through the GloLitter Partnerships, implemented by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in collaboration with FAO, 30 countries are improving waste management at ports, testing cleaner vessel technologies, and tracking marine litter sources.

A Sustainable Future Without Plastics

Reducing plastic use in agrifood systems isn’t about one solution. It’s about rethinking how we grow, transport, and consume food—in ways that protect people, soils, oceans, and the planet.

Step by step, the FAO is helping countries build more sustainable and resilient food systems—systems that no longer rely on plastics to hold them together.