FFAR and NYSTAR Grant Helps RIT Examine Degradable Mulching Films
Rochester, New York
ROCHESTER (December 8, 2020)– Plastic mulch is commonly used on farms to suppress weeds and conserve water, yet it also harms the environment as it ends up in landfills. The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) awarded Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) a $779,982 Seeding Solutions grant to develop a sustainable, biodegradable alternative to plastic mulch. Empire State Development’s Division of Science,Technology and Innovation (NYSTAR) is providing $334,355 and RIT is contributing $445,827 in matching funds for a $1.56 million investment.
Plastic mulch is inexpensive and easy to install. However, these films are difficult to re-use and are often disposed of in landfills or incinerators after a single growing season. Biodegradable alternatives are available, but they decompose slowly and do not perform as strongly as plastic mulch. New approaches are needed to provide growers with economically feasible alternatives to plastic mulch that maintain long-term soil ecosystem health.
RIT researchers are developing an alternative to plastic mulch that decomposes faster and can be more easily disposed of on farms. The resulting mulch has the potential to cut costs for farmers while drastically reducing the amount of waste they produce. It could also reduce pesticide use, conserve water and increase crop yield and quality.
Agricultural mulch films make up approximately 40 percent of the global market for agricultural plastics. The market was worth approximately $10 billion in 2019 and is projected to be worth $17 billion by 2026. Global food production must continue to expand for the foreseeable future to feed a growing population projected to exceed 10 billion by 2050.
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Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.
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