{"id":1423,"date":"2021-04-13T10:47:35","date_gmt":"2021-04-13T09:47:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.svz.com\/news-and-blog\/articles\/a-farmers-perspective-the-potential-benefits-of-biodegradable-mulching-paper"},"modified":"2022-07-06T22:15:00","modified_gmt":"2022-07-06T21:15:00","slug":"a-farmers-perspective-the-potential-benefits-of-biodegradable-mulching-paper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.svz.com\/news-and-blog\/a-farmers-perspective-the-potential-benefits-of-biodegradable-mulching-paper\/","title":{"rendered":"A farmer\u2019s perspective: The potential benefits of biodegradable mulching paper"},"content":{"rendered":"

For food and drink manufacturers globally, there is increasing pressure to embrace environmentally friendly, ethical practices at every stage of the supply chain \u2013 and that includes agricultural production. For farmers, however, implementing new sustainable processes can be complex and costly. That\u2019s why SVZ and Danone<\/strong> have teamed up to proactively support farmers who are looking to embrace \u2018greener\u2019 farming practices.<\/p>\n

In their latest R&D project, the two companies are working closely with strawberry farmers Carmelo Santana and Juan Carlos Cordero<\/strong> to test an innovative biodegradable alternative to traditional plastic mulch. If successful, this new mulching paper has the potential to considerably reduce the waste related to strawberry cultivation \u2013 not just in Spain, but worldwide.<\/p>\n

The \u2018mulch\u2019 problem<\/strong>
\nBut what exactly is mulch? Essentially, it\u2019s a layer of material applied to the surface of an area of soil, designed to conserve moisture, improve the fertility and health of the soil, and control weed growth. Mulch reduces the need for pesticides, fertilisers and irrigation but, as soil mulching materials are traditionally made from plastic \u2013 most typically, polyethylene film \u2013 issues arise with regard to waste.<\/p>\n

In Spain, plastic mulching is the primary technique employed to avoid the growing of multiple weeds. Over time, this has resulted in a significant increase of plastic waste surrounding Spanish strawberry fields. In previous years, this leftover plastic was exported to countries like China to be recycled, but demand for it has now reduced and alternative mulching methods need to be considered – especially as farmers now need to pay to dispose of the waste.<\/p>\n

Testing techniques<\/strong>
\nTo meet this need for a more environmentally friendly mulching alternative, SVZ and Danone are working closely with Carmelo and Juan Carlos to trial a 100% biodegradable mulching paper \u2013 which has been produced specifically for strawberry cultivation – on their farm, Agroecol\u00f3gica El Origen, in Lepe, Spain.<\/p>\n

In total, two rows of paper mulching \u2013 each row measuring up to 30 metres and containing 214 strawberry plants \u2013 have been implemented on the farm. In one row, the mulching paper has impermeable biofilm on top, while the second row has the biofilm facing the soil. Every two weeks, these trial designs are visited and monitored by a specialist agronomist, Jes\u00fas Fierro, to measure climate data, the paper\u2019s durability, plant and fruit quality and the number of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.<\/p>\n

Making progress<\/strong>
\nAlthough the trial is a considerable undertaking for the two farmers, they both jumped at the chance to test the new mulch. \u2018It\u2019s a lot of hard work, but we like being part of this type of pioneering partnership,\u2019 Juan Carlos says. \u2018It allows us to work in a way that we like \u2013 by taking care of the soil and the environment, and not throwing rubbish into the soil.\u2019<\/p>\n

Nevertheless, the implementation and maintenance of the paper has been a learning curve for everyone. \u2018The mulching paper breaks a lot more than plastic,\u2019 reports Carmelo. \u2018So it can be a challenge to keep it in a good condition for long periods of time \u2013 we\u2019ve even invented small tools to help keep it on the soil.\u2019<\/p>\n

Biodegradable benefits<\/strong>
\nBoth farmers are proud of the progress made so far. \u2018Although we\u2019re only halfway through, the expert\u2019s preliminary forecast is that the paper mulch will significantly benefit the soil\u2019s biodiversity more than the plastic version by the end of the project. The paper with the biofilm facing the soil is working especially well as the humidity generated is better for the plant \u2013 although we\u2019re keeping an eye on it, as there is a possibility this moisture may ruin the paper. When summer arrives and the temperatures go up, the plastic version will overheat the soil and cause damage to the ecosystem, so it\u2019s great to have an alternative.\u2019<\/p>\n

Indeed, expert analysis from Huelva University has also found that prolonged use of the paper not only improves the levels of biological control agents, but also improves the functional capacity of the soil to make both phosphorus and potassium available to the plant \u2013 nutrients crucial to maintain the plant\u2019s health.<\/p>\n

Wrapping up<\/strong>
\n\u2018There have undoubtedly been challenges,\u2019 says Carmelo. \u2018However, all the signs are promising, and we\u2019re excited to see the results at the end of the project. At Agroecol\u00f3gica El Origen we\u2019re focused on the future, and we\u2019re aware that the time we\u2019re investing in the project now will pay dividends for future strawberry crops and our community.\u2019<\/p>\n

With the food and beverage industry under increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable agricultural practices, these types of initiatives are more important than ever. If this test is a success, paper mulching can be rolled out across more farms \u2013 and what was once a small experiment on a field in Lepe could be a first step to real significant change across the industry.<\/p>\n

Interested in getting involved in this type of sustainability initiative? Get in touch with the SVZ team today to find out more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For food and drink manufacturers globally, there is increasing pressure to embrace environmentally friendly, ethical practices at every stage of the supply chain \u2013 and that includes agricultural production. For farmers, however, implementing new sustainable processes can be complex and costly. That\u2019s why SVZ and Danone have teamed up to proactively support farmers who are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1529,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe benefits of biodegradable mulching paper | SVZ<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Embracing low-waste growing practices has never been more important for supply chain management. 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