Extent of nanoplastic impacts on food production and food security is unknown

Determine the extent to which increased nanoplastic exposure resulting from microplastic degradation in agricultural soils and landscapes affects food production and food security, by quantifying impacts on plants, pollinators, and biological pest control agents across relevant spatial scales.

Background

The authors explain that microplastics degrade into nanoplastics, which can cross biological barriers and exert complex toxic effects. In agricultural landscapes, this degradation may elevate nanoplastic exposure for key ecosystem service providers and crops.

Given the central role of pollination and biological pest control in sustaining yields and food security, the authors stress that the ultimate consequences of nanoplastic exposure on agricultural production remain undetermined and call for systematic quantification across organismal, farm, and landscape scales.

References

In agricultural landscapes, MP degradation for instance in soils will increase plant, pollinator and pest control agent exposure to NP, eventually affecting food production and security to an unknown extend.

— Nano/micro-plastics effects in agricultural landscapes: an overlooked threat to pollination, biological pest control, and food security  (2403.04920 - Sheng et al., 2024) in Section 5 (Direct nanoplastic effects on pollinators and biocontrol agents at the organismal level), final paragraph