A novel technology to manufacture soil biodegradable plastic mulch films which solves current technologies` limitations while enabling farmers to increase crop yields and save resources

Radical Plastics Inc. has developed a new technology to produce soil biodegradable plastic mulchfilms which solve current technologies' limitations while enabling farmers to increase crop yieldspreserve water energy and fertilizers reduce labor and costs of farming. The films have the optimalphysical and optical properties are made on the standard equipment (low capital entry drop-inreplacement) are affordable do not result in microplastics reduce CO2 emissions versus currentnon-biodegradable alternatives requiring incineration and can be made with biobased resins tosatisfy organic farming requirements. The onset and rate of degradation are designed to matchgrowth cycles of targeted crops. The proposed project addresses four of the USDA's seven strategicgoals including maximizing the ability of American growers to prosper by feeding and clothing theworld; providing all Americans access to a safe nutritious and secure food supply; promotingAmerican agriculture and facilitating rural prosperity. The proposed project falls under theSustainable Ag Intensification Ag Climate Adaptation and Value-added Innovation areas outlinedin USDA's Science Blueprint.In Phase 1 of this project Radical Plastics has made significant progress developing mulch filmsbased on the novel catalyst. Pilot quantities of films were produced and tested. The obtained datawas compelling enough to facilitate continuing on to Phase II to scale up the research anddevelopment activities along with commercialization of mulch films for vegetable and berryproduction. It is expected that by the end of the Phase II Radical Plastics will demonstrate technicalreadiness and compliance with ISO-17033 specification.