This project investigates how micro- and nanoplastics affect edible plants and human health through plant uptake, packaging contamination, and sustainable solutions for safe food production.
Led by OsloMet, this project explores how microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are absorbed by edible plants and how packaging and transport contribute to additional contamination.
Using advanced technologies such as real-time sensors and artificial intelligence, we aim to assess contamination pathways, plant health effects, and potential risks to consumers. We focus on common vegetables including lettuce, spinach, carrots, and tomatoes.
The project brings together academic, public, and NGO partners across Norway, Portugal, Turkey, Spain, and Italy to create knowledge and tools for food safety and sustainable agriculture.
This project has received seed funding from the Intelligent Health Initiative at OsloMet.
Participants
More about the project
Plastic particles in our environment are now a reality, with MPs and NPs found in air, water, and soil making their way into the food chain.
This project focuses on the entire journey of plastic exposure in food systems, from soil to packaging. We study the mechanisms of plastic uptake and accumulation in plants and evaluate how packaging materials contribute to secondary contamination.
With two interconnected work packages, one on plant uptake and one on leaching from packaging, the project uses lab and field experiments, AI-powered monitoring, and predictive modeling.
These methods will deliver valuable insights for defining safe thresholds for plastic exposure and will inform eco-friendly farming and packaging innovations.
MICRO-PLANT is built on cross-disciplinary and cross-country collaboration to generate actionable solutions for food safety and sustainability.
Partner institutions
- Nordic Agrifoodplast Network
- Instituto Politécnico de Viseu, Portugal: sustainable agriculture and soil health
- Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Turkey: physics and AI-based monitoring
- Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University, Turkey: food packaging safety
- CREAF, Spain: soil contamination and plant productivity
- Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Italy: future food labeling and consumer choices
- ZERO, Norway: sustainability policy advocacy
- The Norwegian Gardening Association, Norway: public outreach and sustainable practices
