Two ministries tackle agricultural film pollution, utilization rate to reach 80% by 2020
On October 27, it was learned from the Ministry of Agriculture that on October 20-21, the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Development and Reform Commission jointly held a national on-site meeting in Lanzhou, Gansu Province to promote the comprehensive utilization of agricultural film. The meeting emphasized that it is necessary to fully summarize and promote good experiences and good practices from various regions, continuously increase work intensity, and strive to achieve a recovery and comprehensive utilization rate of agricultural film for the current season of more than 80% by 2020.
The meeting pointed out that plastic film is the fourth largest agricultural production material after seeds, pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Plastic film mulching technology “filled the rice bags and enriched the vegetable baskets”, making important contributions to China's food security. However, due to long-term emphasis on use and neglect of recycling, the current recovery rate of agricultural film for the current season in China is less than 2/3, and plastic film residual pollution is serious in some areas. Comprehensive utilization of plastic film and pollution control is a systematic project, with many influencing factors, wide-ranging involvement and great difficulty in governance.
The meeting required that agricultural departments at all levels focus on doing a good job in the pollution control of agricultural film. First, strengthen organizational leadership and supervision and management, pay attention to coordination and cooperation, and form a strong work synergy. Drawing on the plastic film legislation experience of Gansu, Xinjiang and other places, strengthen supervision and management of the entire process of plastic film in accordance with laws and regulations, and continuously promote the comprehensive utilization of plastic film to achieve obvious results. Second, strengthen scientific and technological support and do a good job in pilot demonstrations. Accelerate research and development of technologies related to plastic film treatment. Continue to do a good job in pilot demonstration projects for cleaner production of agricultural film and establish a long-term mechanism. All provinces should actively create conditions and strive for local financial support. Third, strengthen publicity and guidance and raise public awareness. Through multi-channel and multi-form publicity and guidance, mobilize forces from all sides and gradually form a good situation of public participation in the prevention and control of agricultural film pollution.
Ma Rong, deputy director of the Department of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection of the National Development and Reform Commission, said that next steps will continue to develop agricultural circular economy and promote cleaner agricultural production through measures such as formulating and improving agricultural circular economy planning standards, promoting pilot demonstration project construction for agricultural circular economy, issuing support policies for the utilization of agricultural film and other agricultural waste, strengthening research and development of key common technologies for efficient utilization of agricultural resources, cultivating specialized service institutions for agricultural circular economy, improving the evaluation and acceptance system for cleaner production projects, and accelerating innovative development mechanisms, so as to promote the transformation of agricultural development methods and advance the construction of agricultural ecological civilization. Among A-share companies, Jinmo Technology, Xinjiang Tianye, Kingfa Sci. & Tech. and others are involved in businesses related to plastic film production and prevention and control.