Location: Brussels, Belgium
Date: 8 - 9th of April 2025
Venue: Thon Hotel, Rue de la Loi 75

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SUMBIT YOUR ABSTRACT

About the Event

AGRIFOODPLAST is an independent research initiative uniting global experts, businesses, and decision-makers working at the crossroads of plastics and food. Plastic plays a vital role in food systems, but its use in agriculture, aquaculture, and fisheries can result in pollution and potential risks for biota and humans. Circularity in the use of food waste and biowaste in agriculture, can also up-concentrate microplastics and their chemical  additives in agroecosystems and food. Plastic became also central for food storage and packaging, while the safety of this practice is still ongoing scientific screening.

AGRIFOODPLAST welcomes world experts, decision makers, farmers and businesses to present and debate on these challenges. 

  • Discuss the latest research on environmental and human risks of nano- and microplastics, and plastic-associated chemicals in food production and packaging.
  • Take part in a multi-actor forum of scientists, practitioners, and policy makers;
  • Share your vision on safer and  more  sustainable practices;
  • Debate on needed policy developments and implementation measures.
Register now

Plastic materials are in most cases known for their high resistance to degradation processes, leading to their accumulation in the environment. Physical and biological agents can disaggregate plastics and bioplastics into micro- and nano-plastics, which pose potential toxicological and ecotoxicological issues. The identification and quantification of micro- and nano-plastics in complex matrixes such as soils, plants, foods and human tissues is uncertain, adding to the difficulty in understanding their potential risks. 

While plastic contamination in aquatic environments has been studied for decades, only recently the scientific community shifted its focus to terrestrial environments. Plastics and bioplastics contamination in agricultural affect physical, chemical and microbiological functions of soils. Crops can take up plastic particles and enter the food chain, leading to toxicological effects that are still being investigated and clarified. As plastics are an unavoidable component of agri-food chains, understanding the risks and developing mitigation strategies is crucial.

Important Dates

15th of January 2025

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS  open until 15th of January. Notification of acceptance within 2 weeks from abstract submission. 

15th of January 2025

Early bird fee registration open until 15th of January

17th of March 2025

Full fee registration open until 17th of March

8th of April 2025

Opening of AGRIFOODPLAST

Call for Abstracts - deadline 15th of January 2025

We invite researchers, practitioners, and professionals to submit abstracts for consideration. 

Submission Guidelines:

  • Abstracts should be no more than 1500 characters (including spaces).
  • Title: No more than 200 characters. 
  • Submit your abstract by the 15 th of January 23:59 CET. 

Topics of Interest:

  • Sources, occurrence and behaviour of plastic pollution from agrosystems (terrestrial agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture)
  • Microplastic, nano-plastics and plastic chemical additives in food
  • Toxicological and ecotoxicological impacts of plastics in the agrifood chain
  • Innovation in agriplastics design for environmental sustainability
  • Holistic, circular and evidence-based approach for sustainable plastic management in agriculture

Conference Sessions

Sources, Occurrence, and Behavior of Plastic Pollution from Terrestrial Agriculture, Fisheries, and Aquaculture

Plastic pollution from agricultural activities, fisheries, and aquaculture is increasingly recognized as a significant environmental concern. This track focuses on understanding how plastics enter these systems, their environmental pathways, and their fate in soil, freshwater, and marine ecosystems.

Microplastics, Nano-plastics, and Plastic Chemical Additives in Food

Microplastics, nanoplastics, and their associated chemical additives pose potential risks to food safety and human health. This track explores their presence in the food supply chain, from primary production to consumer products, and investigates methods for detection and mitigation.

Toxicological and Ecotoxicological Impacts of Plastics in the Agrifood Chain

Conventional and biodegradable plastics, their degradation products and chemical additives represent a concern for the food chain. This track examines the toxicological and ecotoxicological consequences of plastic exposure on ecosystems, livestock, and human health.

Innovation in Agriplastics Design for Environmental Sustainability

Designing environmentally sustainable plastics for use in terrestrial agriculture, fish farming and fisheries, is essential to reducing plastic waste and pollution. This track highlights advances in biodegradable, reusable, or recyclable agriplastics and their role in promoting eco-friendly agricultural practices.

Holistic, Circular, and Evidence-Based Approach for Sustainable Plastic Management in Agriculture

A sustainable approach to agricultural plastic management requires integration across the lifecycle, from production to disposal. Actors operating along the agrifood value chain and regulators plays a crucial role to prevent further pollution. This track addresses strategies for implementing circular economy principles, evidence-based policymaking, and holistic solutions for reducing the environmental footprint of conventional and biodegradable agriplastics.
Full Schedule

Keynote speakers

To be announced

Conference organisers

Luc Vernet

Conference Chair

Luca Nizzetto

Conference Chair

Edoardo Puglisi

Co-Chair

Co-Chair

Invited speakers

Lev Neretin

Head of Environment and Social Management Unit, Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment (OCB) at FAO.

Rachel Hurley

Research Scientist, Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Deputy coordinator of PAPILLONS

Christian Laforsch

Chair Animal Ecology​, Faculty of Biology, Chemistry and Earth Sciences, University of Bayreuth​

Bert Van Bavel

Chief Scientist at the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), leading expert in environmental pollutant analysis and quality control. Key contributor to the EU EURAMET project PlasticTrace.

International Organising Scientific Committee

To be announced

Local Organising Committe

Farm Europe and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA)

  • Luc Vernet (Farm Europe)
  • Alessandra Diana (Farm Europe)
  • Micol Cattana (Farm Europe)
  • Luca Nizzetto (NIVA)
  • Valentina Tartiu (NIVA)
  • Amy-Kristine Andersen (NIVA)
  • Rachel Hurley (NIVA)

To be announced.

Supported by:

To be announced.