ABSTRACT
The present chapter is comitted to identifying the applications and opportunities of biodegradable polymers in six main fields of agriculture. The selected information is herein organized in terms of pre- and post-harvest purposes, including seeds protection, mulching, controlled administration of agricultural inputs, packaging/transport/handling, films and coatings and water treatment. The materials and technologies employed for these applications show a growing multidisciplinary character, representing promising prospects for successfully improving the yield and sustainability of modern agriculture. Novel formulations integrating nanotechnology, biomaterials and green chemistry have begun to be developed. However, even if the perspectives are encouraging, agroscientists of all disciplines should interact more among them and with the farmers and greenhouse managers to discuss their current needs and end-use of such technologies. Only by working together can a real solution be found where technology is applied in favor of better agricultural practices and improve food production and preservation techniques. We still have a long way to go, but most of the findings in this compilation are proof of concepts at the laboratory or prototype level which can inspire new ideas, and it simultaneously serves as a guide for educational purposes on courses and seminars for the young generation of agroscientists.
