A recent study reveals that microplastics are significantly damaging plant photosynthesis, which poses a serious threat to global food supplies and could exacerbate hunger.

Microplastics, which originate from waste, interfere with plant growth by blocking sunlight, damaging soils, and introducing toxic chemicals, resulting in a reduction of approximately 12% in terrestrial plant photosynthesis and 7% in marine algae.

The analysis estimates that microplastics contribute to a loss of 4% to 14% of staple crops such as wheat, rice, and maize, potentially adding 400 million more people to the 700 million already affected by hunger as of 2022.

Asia faces the highest crop losses from microplastics, estimated between 54 million and 177 million tonnes annually, with significant impacts also noted for wheat in Europe and maize in the United States.

In marine ecosystems, microplastics are estimated to cause a loss of fish and seafood between 1 million and 24 million tonnes per year, accounting for about 7% of total seafood production, which could provide protein for tens of millions of people.

Researchers led by Prof Huan Zhong from Nanjing University warn that ongoing plastic pollution could undermine global food security, particularly as the world population is projected to reach 10 billion by 2058.

The study, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, is based on over 3,000 observations from 157 studies, highlighting the urgent need for further research to confirm these findings.

While some scientists find the research valuable, they caution that the predictions require additional data for robustness, emphasizing the need for action against microplastic pollution.

The world recently failed to reach an agreement on a UN treaty to tackle plastic pollution, but negotiations will resume in August, where the urgency of addressing microplastics will be highlighted.

Overall, terrestrial plant photosynthesis is estimated to be reduced by about 12%, while marine algae photosynthesis is reduced by about 7%, indicating a significant impact on global ecosystems.

Microplastics can block sunlight, damage soils, and interfere with nutrient and water channels in plants, leading to reduced levels of chlorophyll and overall plant health.

This loss of seafood is substantial enough to provide protein for tens of millions of people, further emphasizing the critical need to address microplastic pollution.