AIMPLAS Joins Project to Develop Biodegradable Fertilizers
The European GREEN project aims to replace microplastic-releasing polymer coatings on fertilizers with bio-based alternatives.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Organic Food
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Should governments require farmers to switch to biodegradable fertilizer coatings?
AIMPLAS has joined the European GREEN project, coordinated by the University of Birmingham, to develop biodegradable fertilizer delivery systems. The project received almost €3 million in funding from the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking.
Why it matters
Conventional polymer coatings on enhanced efficiency fertilizers are not biodegradable and can contribute to microplastic accumulation in agricultural soils. The initiative seeks bio-based alternatives derived from renewable plant feedstocks.
The project received almost €3 million from the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking and brings together 12 partners from 10 European countries. Approximately 22,500 tons of microplastics are released each year in the European Economic Area from conventional polymer-coated fertilizers, and the project's performance outcomes have not yet been reported.
The players
AIMPLAS
A Spanish technology centre specializing in plastics and polymer research that is developing the bio-based delivery systems.
University of Birmingham
A public research university in England that coordinates the GREEN project.
The details
AIMPLAS will coordinate and develop bio-based biodegradable fertilizer delivery systems in the form of microcapsules and polyelectrolytes, using technologies including mechanochemistry. The project expects to deliver four large-scale systems, and the technologies could also be applied to seed coatings and plant protection products.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: AIMPLAS's participation in the GREEN project was announced.
Roadmap
The GREEN project addresses the documented release of roughly 22,500 tons of microplastics each year from conventional polymer-coated fertilizers in the European Economic Area. It reflects a broader European push to replace petroleum-based agricultural inputs with bio-based materials under the Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking.
Farmers and growers who rely on enhanced efficiency fertilizers may eventually see alternatives that avoid polymer coatings. The project's outcomes will determine whether these bio-based systems become practical for everyday agricultural use.
The takeaway
Replacing conventional polymer coatings could reduce microplastic buildup in farmland soils over time. Readers interested in lower-impact food production can watch how these biodegradable fertilizer systems perform as the project advances.
Further reading
For more on the growing range of sustainable farming inputs, explore Organic Food.
Source note: This article includes information reported by AZoM.
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Should governments require farmers to switch to biodegradable fertilizer coatings?
