Emerging Trends in Biodegradable Polymers Derived From Vegetable Waste for Sustainable Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities

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Chinese explanation / 中文解读

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Original abstract

Plastics have become ubiquitous in modern agriculture, offering short-term benefits such as improved crop yields and efficiency. However, their extensive use leaves behind persistent residues that degrade into plastic polymers, which accumulate in soils and pose significant ecological risks. These plastic polymers disrupt soil structure, alter microbial communities, impair nutrient cycling, and ultimately infiltrate the food chain, raising concerns for both environmental and human health. Biodegradable polymers present a promising alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Unlike their synthetic counterparts, these materials are designed to decompose through microbial activity into carbon dioxide, water, and biomass, thereby minimizing long-term persistence in the environment. They are inherently less toxic, more compatible with soil ecosystems, and align with principles of sustainable agriculture. The integration of green chemistry further enhances their potential, emphasizing renewable feed stocks, reduced chemical hazards, and energy-efficient processes. Agricultural and food-processing waste, such as vegetable residues, offers an inexpensive and renewable resource base, supporting the vision of a circular economy. Nevertheless, challenges remain in scaling up biodegradable polymer production. Ensuring durability under field conditions, achieving cost competitiveness with conventional plastics, and guaranteeing complete degradation in diverse natural environments are critical hurdles. Addressing these issues requires coordinated efforts among scientists, manufacturers, policymakers, and the agricultural community. Advancing research into novel biodegradable materials, optimizing production technologies, and implementing supportive policies will be essential to realize their full potential. Such collective action can mitigate plastic pollution while promoting sustainable farming practices, thereby safeguarding soil health and food security for future generations.

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