In this episode of Mulch Matters, host Dr. Nataliya Shcherbatyuk sits down with Dan Martens, Vice President of Novamont North America, for a deep and candid conversation about the past, present, and future of compostable mulch films. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience, Dan walks us through the evolution of compostable materials, the science behind biodegradation, and why understanding microplastics requires more logic than fear.

Together, they explore:

• How compostable mulch films have been studied for over two decades

• What long‑term soil research reveals about biodegradation and soil health

• Why marine biodegradability is complex — and what recent studies actually show

• The role of universities like Washington State University and UConn in advancing unbiased research

• The challenges and roadblocks facing BDMs in organic certification

• How standards like ASTM D6400 and ISO 17088 really work

• The innovations on the horizon, from multilayer films to biodegradable consumer goods

• Why new materials — not bans — are essential for a sustainable future

Dan also shares a powerful message about responsibility, scientific progress, and the importance of giving farmers real choices. This episode is packed with insight, clarity, and forward‑thinking ideas for anyone interested in soil health, sustainable agriculture, or the future of plastics.

Note: intro and outro music credit to Zakhar Valaha from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/music/introoutro-motivational-ident-main-9923/

In this episode of Mulch Matters, host Dr. Nataliya Shcherbatyuk sits down with Washington State University PhD researcher Xueyu Zhou to dig into what really happens to biodegradable mulch once it's tilled into the soil.

Xueyu shares insights from a multi‑state field experiment spanning Washington, Nebraska, Florida, and California, where the team tracks mulch fragments—from large pieces to microplastics—over time. She explains how soil conditions, climate, and microbial activity shape the degradation process, and why strawberries are an ideal crop for testing these materials under real‑world conditions.

Listeners will learn:

• Why biodegradable mulch behaves differently across regions

• How researchers collect and analyze mulch fragments in the field

• What early results reveal about degradation after one year

• Practical considerations and limitations farmers should keep in mind

• What future research is needed to understand long‑term soil impacts

Whether you're a grower, researcher, or simply curious about sustainable agriculture, this episode offers a grounded, science‑based look at biodegradable mulch and its potential role in more sustainable production systems.

Note: intro and outro music credit to Zakhar Valaha from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/music/introoutro-motivational-ident-main-9923/

In this episode of Mulch Matters, we are joined by Dr. Beth Prosnitz, a postdoctoral research associate and sociologist at Washington State University, to explore the human side of plastic mulch decisions in agriculture.

Rather than focusing only on materials or technology, this conversation dives into how economic realities, social values, land tenure, environmental responsibility, and farmer identity all intersect when growers decide whether to use polyethylene or biodegradable plastic mulch particularly in strawberry production systems.

Beth introduces the concept of relational work, explaining how farmers balance price, labor, environmental stewardship, food safety, land leases, and peer expectations when making real-world decisions. The discussion also highlights why biodegradable mulch adoption is not always feasible, the role of waste management and recycling markets, and how skepticism around recycling affects grower trust.

This episode offers valuable insight for growers, researchers, policymakers, waste management professionals, and anyone interested in sustainable agriculture, showing that plastic mulch decisions are not just technical choices, but deeply relational ones shaped by people, policies, and long-term realities in the field.

This work is supported by Specialty Crops Research Initiative Award 2022-51181-38325 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed on this podcast are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  

Note: intro and outro music credit to Zakhar Valaha from Pixabay https://pixabay.com/music/introoutro-motivational-ident-main-9923/