Doha: In addition to visible threats posed by climate change such as rising temperatures, wildfires, floods, droughts, and hurricanes, global food security is increasingly endangered by microplastics, an invisible but significant risk. Specialized scientific studies reveal that microplastics pose severe threats to plants, one of Earth’s most vital and widespread kingdoms, by harming soil health and reducing agricultural productivity. A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) in the United States highlights that microplastic particles negatively impact plants’ ability to perform photosynthesis, affecting critical crops like corn, rice, and wheat.
According to Qatar News Agency, the study estimates that 4-14 percent of these essential crops are lost due to widespread pollution. With microplastic contamination projected to rise, an additional 400 million people may face starvation by 2040, exacerbating the hunger crisis that affected 700 million individuals in 2022. The world is already grappling with the challenge of sustainably producing enough food, as the global population is expected to reach 10 billion by around 2058.
Beyond its impact on agriculture, microplastic pollution could reduce seafood production by up to 7 percent as aquatic ecosystems lose algae, which form the foundation of their food chains. According to the study, such changes could severely harm the global economy and worsen food insecurity for hundreds of millions. Furthermore, the decline in plant photosynthesis could hinder climate change mitigation efforts. Through photosynthesis, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air and store it as sugars in their tissues. While scientific research assumes plants will maintain their carbon absorption rates over the coming decades, lower carbon sequestration in forests, grasslands, and seagrass beds than expected would make combating global warming significantly more challenging.
Plastics can increase productivity and efficiency in agriculture and help reduce food loss and waste; however, they remain a major source of pollution. Over the past seventy years, the use of plastics in agricultural food systems has become increasingly widespread, from irrigation tools and tree protection to greenhouses. Microplastics now fill our air, soil, food, and water, infiltrating every corner of the Earth, from Mount Everest’s peak to ocean depths.
Globally, agriculture uses approximately 12.5 million tons of plastics annually, much of which enters and decomposes in the soil. Microplastic particles can persist in soil for years, affecting its structure and fertility. Over 95% of food comes from the soil, which provides essential natural chemicals necessary for plants. In oceans, where microplastics can coat algae, the estimated loss of fish and seafood ranges from one to twenty-four million tons annually, about 7% of total production, enough protein to feed tens of millions.
Despite the concerning study results, experts stress the need for further research to validate and refine data. Scientists highlight the urgent necessity for a global treaty on plastic issues. Last December, world countries failed to reach an agreement on a United Nations treaty to reduce plastic pollution, but negotiations will resume in August. In January, over 150 Nobel laureates and World Food Prize winners signed an open letter calling for accelerated efforts to increase food production before an imminent global hunger crisis. The coalition of some of the world’s greatest living thinkers urged for prioritizing research and technology to address the tragic discrepancy between global food supply and demand. Citing challenges such as the climate crisis, wars, and market pressures, signatories called for “planet-friendly” efforts to significantly boost food production to feed about ten billion people by mid-century.
These scientists warned that the world is far from meeting future needs and predicted that humanity would face greater food insecurity and instability by mid-century unless support for international innovation intensifies.