InPlasTwin: New EU Project Increasing Expertise in Micro- and Nanoplastics Analysis Through Twinning Action
The newly launched InPlasTwin project, funded by Horizon Europe, is designed to strengthen research and innovation capacity in the field of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) analysis in Slovenia and Greece. Running from October 2024 to September 2027, this project brings together six partners from six countries: Slovenia, Greece, Belgium, Denmark, Serbia and Norway. These partners are committed to advance the understanding of MNPs’ environmental and food-related impacts with a particular focus on agriculture.
“InPlasTwin aims to significantly enhance the research capabilities of the Jožef Stefan Institute and the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) in MNPs analysis. By partnering with leading European institutions like VITO (Belgium), IMR (Norway), and DTU (Denmark), we will gain access to advanced technologies, equipment, and expertise in MNP detection, extraction, and characterisation. This collaboration will enable us to analyse MNPs in various environments, including soil and food, and study their impact on agriculture and human health.”
Assistant Professor Janja Vidmar, Project Coordinator and Research Associate at the Jožef Stefan Institute (JSI), Slovenia
Innovative Research in Agriculture: A Focus on Strawberries
As part of its transformative research, InPlasTwin will focus on the agricultural use of biodegradable mulching films. These films, which break down into MNPs through processes like photo-oxidation and mechanical abrasion will be studied to assess their environmental impact. A particular emphasis will be placed on strawberry cultivation, where researchers will simulate real farming conditions to analyse how MNPs, released from mulching films, are absorbed by crops and how they affect yield, fruit quality (e.g., mass, colour, and sugar content), and safety.
By generating MNPs under controlled conditions, InPlasTwin will develop protocols for studying their uptake and potential impact on plants and soil. The project will also explore the release of toxic plastic additives—compounds such as plasticisers and stabilisers intentionally incorporated into plastics—and how they migrate into the environment. These toxic compounds have the potential to leach into edible parts of plants, raising concerns about food safety and human health.
Technological Advancements for Improved MNP Analysis
The project will utilise cutting-edge technologies to advance the field of MNP analysis. Key objectives include:
- Developing methods to generate and study MNPs from biodegradable mulching films under real-world agricultural conditions.
- Establishing standardised protocols for extracting MNPs from complex samples, including soil and food crops.
- Enhancing knowledge of analytical techniques for quantifying, identifying, and characterising MNPs, using methods like spectroscopy and mass spectrometry.
- Investigating the effects of MNPs on crop yield and quality, with a particular focus on strawberries.
- Conducting toxicological assessments of plastic additives released from MNPs, using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry techniques.
Long-Term Collaboration and Impact
The project’s findings will be shared with key stakeholders, including farmers and policymakers, to promote more sustainable agricultural practices and mitigate the environmental and health impacts of MNPs. Through its innovative approach and collaborative spirit, InPlasTwin aims to strengthen the research profile of its partner institutions while contributing to the global understanding of plastic pollution in agriculture.
To stay up to date with InPlasTwin and its developments, visit its website or LinkedIn page.