University of Kentucky researchers laying biodegradable film (above) in mid-May and (above right) the progress of the crop in mid-June.
a farm person; we need to talk to more people in agriculture.” She readily admits that gaining access to the farm community was the impetus behind joining WGCIT. While mulch film is the first application the company is tackling, Kann said irrigation tape that is biodegradable also also being developed. And she suspects the technology can be applied to many different plastic materials used in agriculture and beyond. There are a plethora of plastics in use and the ability to
make them biodegradable is a race being run by many different companies. Radical Plastics knows it has come up with a radical solution. Kann said the goal is to get it in production as quickly and as cheaply as possible. Partly because the raw product being used is a waste product that is added to the polymers in the extrusion process, Kann does not believe that the additive will make biodegradable plastic any more expensive than the non- degradable versions. “We are hoping that it will not add to the cost,” she said. “Our
goal is to create a biodegradable film that is cost competitive.” She noted that the company is not getting into the business of actually manufacturing the mulch film itself. They are not building a mulch film factory; they are creating the pellets to add in during the manufacturing process to make the film degradable. While farmers are the ultimate consumers of this product, Radical Plastics will be selling the pellets to the manufacturers of the plastic products.
JULY | AUGUST 2022
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Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com
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