Integrating microplastic research in sustainable agriculture: Challenges and future directions for food production

Abstract

In agroecosystems, plants are frequently subjected to a wide range of environmental stressors that have a substantial influence on plant physiology, crop performance, and food security. Abiotic stress responses to plant crop physiology and performance have been widely studied, but the co-occurrence of stressors, such as emerging contaminants (e.g., pharmaceuticals, plastic particles, or pesticides), combined with environmental conditions, remains understudied. Microplastics (MPs) have been identified as modifiers of plant physiology; therefore, these particles present a risk to the quality and safety of plant food production systems. One relevant question is how these emerging pollutants interact with the increasingly extreme environmental conditions of today. For example, evidence indicates that the interaction of MPs particles with elevated levels of ambient CO₂ can modify stomatal conductance. In addition, their interaction with high temperatures may induce increased oxidative stress, whereas drought conditions can adversely affect vegetative growth. Salinity has been shown to alter root development, and MP particles can enhance the adsorption of trace metals onto plant tissues, thereby compromising food safety and increasing health risks. Currently, the application of omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, offers novel insights into molecular mechanisms that enable the identification of specific biomarkers associated with MP exposure. Furthermore, machine learning algorithms can be employed to analyze complex datasets, enhancing our ability to predict the impacts of MPs on plant health and crop performance under different environmental conditions. These results are significant for agricultural practices and policy formulation. As the prevalence of MPs in the environment continues to escalate, policymakers should address the potential risks these contaminants constitute to food safety and agricultural sustainability. This review compiles and synthesizes the most recent evidence regarding the impact of various stressors on crop quality and performance, with a particular emphasis on the interactions involving different plastic particles present in the environment and evaluates their potential risks to food safety and environmental resilience.