There’s MICROPLASTICS in your FRUIT and VEGETABLES !!!

Summary

In this video, the speaker expresses their shock and concern over the discovery of microplastics in fruits and vegetables, particularly in apples, pears, and carrots. The speaker, a farmer, reflects on their own farming practices and the widespread use of plastics in agriculture. Despite efforts to farm sustainably and harmoniously with nature, the presence of microplastics in food is troubling. The speaker emphasizes the need for further research and awareness, urging viewers to consider the unseen environmental impact of plastic pollution and how it infiltrates the food chain.

Takeaways

• 😲 Microplastics have been found inside fruits and vegetables, not just in oceans.
• 🍎 Apples show the highest microplastic contamination among fruits, while carrots lead among vegetables.
• 🔬 The 2020 Italian study carefully avoided contamination using gloves, glass containers, and stainless steel instruments.
• 🌱 Agricultural practices such as plastic mulch, plastic irrigation lines, and plastic components in machinery can contribute to microplastic contamination.
• 💧 Microplastics may also enter crops through air or rain, making contamination potentially widespread.
• 👨‍🌾 Even farms practicing sustainable methods like permaculture, biodiversity, no-till soil management, and organic principles may still introduce microplastics due to plastic usage.
• 🧪 Scientific investigation is essential to trace the sources of microplastics and find ways to reduce them.
• 🤝 The speaker invites collaboration for research comparing crops grown with and without plastics to better understand contamination pathways.
• 🍏 Consumers should continue eating fruits and vegetables but remain aware of microplastic presence.
• 📢 Raising public awareness about microplastic contamination in agriculture is crucial for fostering sustainable changes.
• 🌍 The environment has shifted from visible pollution in the 1970s to microscopic contamination today, highlighting the need for careful monitoring.

Q & A

What is the main concern raised in the video about microplastics?

The main concern raised in the video is that microplastics are now found inside our fruit and vegetables, which is disturbing to the presenter who has always tried to grow food in a way that's harmonious with nature.

How did the speaker initially react to the idea of microplastics in food?

The speaker was disturbed and aghast, initially not knowing how microplastics could get into fruit and vegetables. They were aware of the microplastics in oceans but didn’t realize it was a problem on land.

What kind of farming practices does the speaker use on their farm?

The speaker uses a range of eco-friendly practices such as growing fruit trees in trios with nitrogen-fixing trees, no-till farming, rotating mowing, using roller crimping for soil improvement, and providing habitats for wildlife like birds and native bees.

How did the speaker react after learning about the study on microplastics in food?

The speaker was deeply disturbed after learning about the study, but they expressed that they would continue to eat the fruit despite the discovery, as they believed it might be too late to reverse the damage caused by plastic use in farming.

Which fruits and vegetables were found to have the highest levels of microplastics in the study?

In the study, apples were found to have the highest levels of microplastics among fruits, while carrots had the most microplastics among vegetables. Lettuce had the least amount of microplastics.

How did the study ensure that there was no contamination of the samples?

The study took great care to avoid contamination by using gloves to handle the samples, placing the fruit in glass containers, and using non-plastic instruments during the lab analysis to ensure that no microplastics were introduced during the process.

What are some sources of plastic in farming that the speaker identified?

The speaker identified several sources of plastic in farming, such as plastic mulch, plastic irrigation lines, plastic parts on farming machinery, plastic tanks on sprayers, and plastic containers used for pesticides.

What does the speaker propose as a potential solution to the microplastic issue in farming?

The speaker proposes conducting comparative research to assess farming with and without plastic use, to better understand the impact of plastic on microplastic contamination and explore ways to reduce or eliminate it from the farming process.

What was the speaker's overall attitude toward the issue of microplastics in food?

The speaker’s attitude was one of concern and urgency, acknowledging the issue's seriousness while stressing the need for awareness, research, and action to understand the sources of microplastics in food and mitigate their presence.

What historical context does the speaker provide to emphasize the current environmental problem?

The speaker draws a comparison to the pollution of the 1970s, noting that while visible pollution has decreased, the issue has evolved into invisible microscopic pollution that is now affecting air, water, soil, and food.