Plastic materials are in most cases known for their high resistance to degradation processes, leading to their accumulation in the environment. It is known that physical and biological agents can disaggregate plastics into micro- and nano-plastics that may cause (eco)toxicological effects when occurring in high concentrations. It is less clear, however, how more realistic concentrations occurring in the field affect physical, chemical and microbiological functions of soils and whether crops can take up plastic particles that thus enter the food chain. Biodegradable plastics have been proposed as alternative materials in the agri-food chain, but is similarly unclear whether the above mentioned processes also occur when these materials are used in the field or whether chemical additives are potentially released.

Uncovering fate, transformation and ecotoxicological processes in soils is important, but also in aquaculture and in technical systems producing e.g. residues that are used to fertilize soils. Moreover, the identification and quantification of micro- and nano-plastics in complex matrixes such as soils, plants, sludges, composts, foods and human tissues is uncertain, adding to the difficulty in understanding their potential risks. Plastic contamination is an unavoidable component of agri-food chains. Understanding the risks and developing mitigation strategies is therefore crucial.