African countries are stepping up efforts to tackle agricultural plastic pollution, with experts from across the continent sharing practical solutions and emerging initiatives to reduce environmental impacts while maintaining food production.

At the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) regional webinar, The Voluntary Code of Conduct for Plastics in Agriculture: African Experiences and the Way Forward, participants highlighted the growing role of plastics in agriculture and the risks posed by inadequate waste management.

FAO deputy regional representative for Africa Ayman Omer said the organisation’s Provisional Voluntary Code of Conduct on the Sustainable Use and Management of Plastics in Agriculture (VCoC) provides a framework to help countries develop policies and strategies covering the full lifecycle of agricultural plastics.

“The VCoC provides practical guidance to support countries in developing policies and strategies for agricultural plastics throughout their life cycle. By working together, we can accelerate its implementation and support the transition towards more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agrifood systems,” Omer said.

Country action on the ground

Experiences from across Africa highlighted both the scale of the challenge and opportunities for innovation.

In Kenya, the FARM project is improving the lifecycle management of agricultural plastic waste through collaboration between government agencies, producer responsibility organisations and stakeholders across the agrifood value chain.

Annastacia Vyalu, senior compliance officer at Kenya’s National Environment Management Authority (NEMA), said Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a practical tool for reducing agricultural plastic pollution while promoting recycling and resource recovery.

The FARM pilot, currently operating in three Kenyan counties, is expected to expand nationwide and eventually across East Africa.

As Kenya strengthens its collection systems, attention is also turning to specific sources of agricultural plastic waste, including fertiliser bags. These are widely used across farming systems, but their disposal after use is often poorly managed.

Killian Banda, senior specialist for market development and intelligence at the African Fertilizer and Agribusiness Partnership (AFAP), presented findings from a multi-country study examining the issue.

The study found widespread awareness of plastic pollution among value-chain actors but identified ongoing challenges, including weak enforcement of regulations and limited recycling infrastructure.

Recommendations included promoting reusable packaging, strengthening recycling incentives and exploring biodegradable alternatives.

Testing alternatives

Innovative alternatives to conventional plastics were another focus of the webinar.

Field trials in pineapple production showed that coconut coir mulch could provide an effective alternative to traditional plastic mulch. Presented by Dr Ebenezer Laryea, associate professor at Aston University in the United Kingdom, the Ghana-based project found that biodegradable alternatives could deliver comparable agricultural results while reducing plastic waste.

With FAO support, the next phase of the project will test biodegradable seedling bags in cocoa nurseries during 2026.

Participants also highlighted the need for innovation in fisheries. Emma Algotsson, chief executive of South African company Catchgreen, presented findings from three years of pilot trials in Kenya, where biodegradable ropes, nets and traps performed similarly to conventional fishing gear.

“The challenge is not simply about replacing plastic. The challenge is designing fishing gear that performs reliably during use but does not remain in the environment for decades,” Algotsson said.

The discussions highlighted that recycling alone will not solve agricultural plastic pollution. Participants called for affordable alternatives, stronger policy frameworks, improved collection systems and closer cooperation between governments and the private sector.

FAO said it would continue supporting countries implementing the VCoC, including through the FARM project in Kenya and the next phase of the Ghana coconut-coir initiative, to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable agrifood systems across Africa.- Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).