Microplastic Pollution Threatens Global Food Security and Plant Health, Study Finds

New research reveals that microplastics hinder photosynthesis and crop yields, potentially putting 400 million more people at risk of hunger by 2040.

Microplastics reduce plants' photosynthesis by 7–12%, impacting staple crops like wheat, rice, and maize, and aquatic ecosystems reliant on algae.
Global food production could face a 4–14% loss in crop yields annually, exacerbating food insecurity for hundreds of millions worldwide.
The study estimates microplastic pollution could increase the number of people at risk of starvation by 400 million within two decades.
Microplastics damage soil health, block nutrient and water absorption in plants, and release toxic chemicals, further harming plant growth.
Researchers emphasize the urgency of reducing plastic pollution to safeguard food supplies and mitigate its broader ecological and climate impacts.