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FOTO: Nattanan Kanchanaprat from Pixabay

“The new Bioeconomy Strategy is a step forward for the EU’s economic future”

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David Newman (European Bioeconomy Bureau): "The document acknowledges past mistakes and seeks to correct them, also to avoid missing the train of opportunities that bioeconomy offers". But some aspects are worrying, starting with the lack of market-pull mechanisms to stimulate industrial innovation
The new Bioeconomy Strategy formulated by the European Commission aims to promote green growth, competitiveness, and resilience in the EU. PHOTO: Iván Tamás by PixabayIván Tamás by Pixabay

Bioeconomy: The EU Commission presents its new strategy

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The document aims to increase the Union's competitiveness through the development of the various sectors of the bioeconomy, a meta-sector that is already worth 2,700 billion and employs over 17 million people (8% of total employment)
An experiment in Wales revealed how bioplastic mulches do not negatively impact soil organic matter content and have minimal effects on the bacterial community. Photo: F. Kesselring, FKuR Willich Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Germany CC BY-SA 3.0 DE DeedF. Kesselring, FKuR Willich Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Germany CC BY-SA 3.0 DE Deed

Biodegradable mulch sheets don’t reduce soil organic content

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According to a British study, the use of bioplastic biodegradable mulch sheets in agricultural soils increases yields and has no side effects in terms of carbon balance
Industrial plastic granules on a beach on the Aquitaine coast. In France, 76 percent of soils surveyed are contaminated with microplastics. Photo: Maldeseine Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 DeedMaldeseine Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported CC BY-SA 3.0 Deed

Three quarters of soils in France contaminated with microplastics

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A study by the Agency for Ecological Transition reveals that 76 percent of soils examined contain microplastics between 0.3 and 5 millimeters in size. Polyethylene is the most prevalent polymer
Tra i bioprodotti, i teli pacciamanti sono tra quelli i cui vantaggi sono più tangibili: diversamente da quelli prodotti in plastica fossile, a fine coltura si possono incorporare nel terreno con una semplice trinciatura e non hanno costi di lavaggio, rimozione e smaltimento.

‘Biodegradable plastics do not impact ecosystems’

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A study in US shows how bioplastics can degrade in an acceptable timeframe and without harming the environment as long as they are disposed of properly
Bioplastic films can be made from Panicum virgatum, a plant that biodegrade completely within 40 days with 30% soil moisture content. Photo: SEWilco CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 UnportedSEWilco CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported

Here’s how U.S. native prairie grass can be turned into bioplastics

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Researchers at South Dakota State University have made biodegradable bioplastic films from switchgrass, a weed capable of reaching significant heights that is widespread in North America's grasslands
Secondo la FAO la domanda globale di pellicole in plastica per uso agricolo raggiungerà quota 9,5 milioni di tonnellate nel 2030 contro i 6,1 milioni del 2018. Foto: Florian Gerlach Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Polyethylene mulches leave behind ‘negative effects for decades’

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L’ampio utilizzo delle pellicole da pacciamatura nelle colture di fragole si traduce nella dispersione di micro e macro frammenti di plastica nel suolo. Un fenomeno, rivela uno studio californiano, i cui effetti possono manifestarsi per decenni
The Patrica plant in Lazio is an example of the potential of the circular bioeconomy: Novamont has transformed a historic Italian chemical hub into a highly renewable biopolyester production centre, obtained from materials of vegetable origin. PHOTO: NovamontNovamont

Circular bioeconomy, biobased industries need specific codes

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Interview with Giulia Gregori, Strategic Planning and Corporate Communication manager of Novamont: "We will thus be able to enhance the contribution of biobased products to decarbonisation and soil protection"
Il compost è un fertilizzante naturale estremamente utile in agricoltura, che riduce l'uso dei prodotti chimici e valorizza la frazione umida dei rifiuti urbani (la cosiddetta FORSU). FOTO: Matteo Berlenga

Plastic, glass, metals: the “enemies” that dirty the compost

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The alarm emerges from a series of video interviews with managers of composting plants carried out by the italian Biorepack consortium. Too high percentages of "foreign fractions" (up to 12%) make it more difficult and expensive to make compost. On the other hand, compostable, flexible and rigid bioplastics were promoted with flying colors: "very useful for increasing quantity and quality of the final product"
Contamination and plastic pollution in soils are even greater than those affecting the seas and oceans.

Pollution, there is more plastic in agricultural land than in the oceans

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FAO produced the first report on the use of plastics in agri-food systems. Pollution is pervasive, especially in Asia. The solutions revolve around the "6Rs": reject, redesign, reduce, reuse, recycle and recover. It is essential to invest in the search for alternative products

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