By Jamie Martin
Microplastics, the tiny plastic particles found everywhere from oceans to farmland, are raising global concerns for food production.
A new AI-based study combining 3,000 observations from 157 reports has revealed a disturbing trend — microplastics are reducing photosynthesis in both plants and algae by 7% to 12%. This could eventually lower yields of key crops like rice, maize, and wheat by up to 14%.
Microplastics are smaller than 5mm and often invisible to the naked eye. Some are even small enough to enter plant cells. When this happens, essential structures like chloroplasts can be damaged, affecting how plants create energy. In marine environments, algae—crucial for seafood chains—also suffer similar damage.
While the findings are alarming, researchers admit there are limits. There are thousands of microplastic types, each behaving differently.
The study did not account for these variations, making broad conclusions difficult. Still, scientists believe it highlights an urgent issue.
The World Economic Forum calls microplastics a top ten global threat. It estimates people may consume between 78,000 and 211,000 particles yearly. Worse, emissions may double in 15 years, reaching over 40 million tonnes annually.
Despite this, funding for research is under threat in some countries. Experts say this is risky. With possible global food shortages on the horizon, understanding how microplastics affect crops and seafood is essential. More rigorous studies are urgently needed.
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Categories: National