Overview of Workshop: Horticultural crop production depends on plastic mulch film to suppress weeds, optimize the soil microclimate, and overall improve economic and efficient production of crops within both conventional and organic systems. Unfortunately, the benefits of plastic mulch are often overshadowed by its poor end-of life outcomes with growers frequently landfilling, stockpiling, burying, or burning mulch waste at the end of a production season. Some of this mulch waste can become pollutants of soil and water. The horticultural industry needs new technologies that reduce persistent plastic waste generation with the expansion of extended producer responsibility, circularity, and sustainability initiatives. This interactive workshop will educate participants on promising solutions that preserve the essential functions of plastic mulch while reducing waste generation with an emphasis on soil-biodegradable plastic mulch and new collection, retrieval, and recycling technologies for non-biodegradable plastic mulch.
The workshop is divided into three interactive sessions that will provide participants with a balance of academic and private industry perspectives. The sessions include: 1) Identifying the problem and possible solutions; 2) Lessons learned and recommendations from industry; and 3) Socioeconomic considerations and future prospects. Each session will have a panel of experts that will provide a brief presentation on a targeted topic. Invited industry speakers will share lessons learned and experience-shaped strategies to reduce plastic mulch waste generation. At the end of each session, samples of materials (e.g., soil-biodegradable mulch, mulch made with recycled resin) will be circulated and questions will be asked from the audience. The moderator will also poll the audience to promote engagement and to gather information about shared experiences related to sustainable mulch management. This information will be leveraged to discuss and design participant-tailored recommendations for sustainable end-of-life mulch management within their regions and communities at the end of the workshop.
Moderators: Lisa W. DeVetter and Carol Miles
Session 1: Identifying the Problem and Possible Solutions (40 minutes total)Speakers:- Lisa DeVetter / Washington State University / Associate Professor of Horticulture
- Carol Miles / Washington State University / Professor of Horticulture
- Gene Jones / Southern Waste Information eXchange/ CEO
Session 2: Lessons learned from Industry (40 min total)
Speakers:- Shuresh Ghimire/ Vegetable Assistant Extension Educator / University of Connecticut
Ben Andros / Andros Engineering Cooperation / President
Hillary Thomas / Naturipe Berry Growers, Inc. / Research and Technical Director
Session 3: Socioeconomic Considerations and Future Prospects (40 min total)
Speakers:- Jessica Goldberger / Washington State University / Professor of Crop and Soil Sciences
- Sam Wortman / Associate Professor and Environmental Horticulturist / University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Pierre Sarazin / Polyexpert / Vice President of R&D and Sustainability
