National Webinar on “Alternatives to Plastics for Sustainable Soil and Environmental Health” organized

30th December, 2020, Bhopal

The ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh organized a National Webinar on “Alternatives to Plastics for Sustainable Soil and Environmental Health” today.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Suresh Kumar Chaudhari, Deputy Director General (Natural Resource Management), ICAR, highlighted the need for alternatives of plastics in agriculture. Outlining the primary use of plastics in agriculture as mulch, shade nets, pond lining, micro-irrigation, etc., the DDG also highlighted the associated threats with the use of conventional plastic materials. Stressing on the importance of studying the basic soil properties under mulch versus unmulched soils / fields, he highlighted the various alternatives to plastics, potential materials, recent advances in R&D and policy perspectives.

Earlier, in his welcome address, Dr. Ashok K. Patra, Director, ICAR-IISS, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh highlighted the importance of the alternative to plastics in agriculture.

In the panel discussion organized during the Webinar, the various points to formulate / recommend a policy framework and future action plans were discussed.

The senior officials of ICAR Institutes also virtually participated in the National Webinar.

(Source: ICAR-Indian Institute of Soil Science, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh)