In this episode of Mulch Matters, host Dr. Nataliya Shcherbatyuk sits down with Cynthia Bosibori Sigira, a PhD researcher at NC State University, to explore the rapidly evolving world of agricultural plastic mulch and its end‑of‑life challenges.

Cynthia shares her journey from studying environmental engineering in Kenya to researching sustainable recycling pathways for plastic mulch in U.S. agriculture. She explains why plastic mulch use has surged—highlighting that it can lead to "up to 60% increased crop yields" —while also unpacking the environmental risks of current disposal practices like burning, burying, and landfilling.

A major focus of the conversation is Cynthia's work on pyrolysis, which she describes using a memorable analogy: "imagine cooking something using a slow cooker" . She discusses how real‑world conditions—UV exposure, soil contamination, additives—affect pyrolysis outcomes and why these films are so challenging to recycle. Cynthia also dives into the promise of catalytic pyrolysis, the hurdles to scaling it, and what a truly circular system for agricultural plastics could look like.

Whether you're a grower, researcher, policymaker, or sustainability enthusiast, this episode offers a clear, insightful look at the science, challenges, and future of mulch film recycling.

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.

Intro and outro music credit to Zakhar Valaha from Pixabay

What really happens to mulch films after they're used—and which options are truly sustainable? In this episode, PhD candidate Oluwatunmise Dada joins us to break down the full cradle‑to‑grave life cycle of biodegradable and polyethylene mulches in California's strawberry systems.

We explore:

• How PBAT, PLA, and TPS mulch formulations differ

• Why soil biodegradation consistently outperforms other end‑of‑life pathways

• The hidden environmental costs of landfilling PE mulch

• What sensitivity analysis reveals about degradation rates and transport distances

• Key limitations in current LCA methods for soil‑biodegradable materials

• Practical takeaways for growers deciding whether to adopt BDMs

Dada also shares what excites him most about the future of sustainable materials in agriculture, and what's next as he approaches the finish line of his PhD journey.

If you're a grower, researcher, or anyone curious about the future of mulch sustainability, this episode offers clear, science‑based insights you won't want to miss.

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

In this episode, host Dr. Nataliya Shcherbatyuk sits down with Hadi Ghasemi, a Florida-based researcher, to explore how biodegradable plastic mulches (BDMs) are performing in real-world strawberry production systems.

Together, they discuss the promise and limitations of BDMs compared to conventional polyethylene mulch, insights from Florida field trials, and how environmental conditions like moisture, wind, and temperature influence mulch performance. The conversation also connects mulch technology with plant physiology, including photosynthesis, light reflection, and canopy microclimate—highlighting how these factors can impact yield and sustainability.

This episode offers valuable takeaways for growers, researchers, students, and anyone interested in sustainable horticulture, including how research can directly inform day-to-day production decisions and long-term environmental outcomes.

Tune in to learn:

• How BDMs compare to PE mulch in strawberry systems
• Key agronomic and environmental factors shaping mulch performance
• Why plant physiology matters when choosing mulch materials
• Practical insights for improving sustainability in specialty crop production

Note: Intro and outro music credit to Zakhar Valaha from Pixabay