Division of Environment and Natural Resources
PROLAND – Protecting agricultural lands from plastic pollution
End: jun 2026
Start: apr 2023
PROLAND addresses the sources of plastic pollution in agricultural soils: sewage sludge, compost, biogas digestate, agricultural plastics, and atmospheric deposition. The project unfolds pressures of plastic and associated chemical hazards by analyzing their levels in soils and conducting fate and impact studies. It deploys cutting edge “design thinking” methods to co-develop measures for pollution prevention.
More information
Link to PROLAND's website at NIVA Link to PROLAND's facebook For information on biodegradable plastics in soils and waste streams - Link to DGRADE websiteProject participants
Erik J. Joner Sissel Brit Ranneklev Rachel Hurley Birgitta Ralston Cecilie Baann Line Johanne Barkved| Start - end date | 01.04.2023 - 30.06.2026 |
| Project manager | Luca Nizzetto |
| Project manager at Nibio | Claire Coutris |
| Division | Division of Environment and Natural Resources |
| Department | Bioresources and Recycling Technologies |
| Partners | NIVA, BioRegion Institute, Hold Norge Rent, Norsk Vann, Norwaste, Norges Bondelag |
| Total budget | 14 mill. NOK |
| Funding source | Norwegian Research Council |
The main aim of the project is to reduce plastic pollution in agricultural soils of Norway, and beyond.
At NIBIO, we investigate what happens to plastics in soil, to what extent different organisms in soil are exposed to microplastics, and the effects. Knowledge of exposure and toxicity is essential for assessing risk, and our main goals are to increase knowledge about:
- Mobility of microplastics and adsorbed pesticides and additives in different soil types
- Factors that influence exposure to microplastics in soil organisms
- Toxicity of microplastics and adsorbed pesticides and additives towards soil organisms
We are also contributing to our research partners' work related to:
- Mapping sources of plastic in agricultural soils (WP1, led by Rachel Hurley, NIVA)
- Determining concentrations of (micro)plastics and their additives in agricultural soils (WP 2, led by Sissel Ranneklev, NIVA)
- Collecting information from stakeholders about their challenges with agricultural plastics (WP4, led by Birgitta Ralston, BioRegion Institute)
