Research Projects

Microplastic contamination in ruminant production

How much microplastic is in animal feed and on farms?

How can we accurately and precisely measure microplastics in food for animals and humans?

BesTeam's main research topic is the study of microplastic contamination in livestock farming- an extensive and great problem.

To grasp the current contamination level in farms and animal products, we are working on developing microplastic detection methods in animal feeds and products.

There are 2 lines of work related to the detection of microplastics in animal nutrition.

Improving the traditional method for microplastic extraction and detection

Developing an innovative and rapid microplastic detection method

Microplastics

Microplastic contamination

Microplastics (plastic debris smaller than 5 mm) represent an invisible and global threat, more insidious than the plastic itself from which they originate.

These tiny particles are too small to collect and remove.

They spread through air, water, and food, entering our bodies and threatening our health through a vicious cycle that tends towards infinity.

Larger particles that enter animals are often excreted.

Manure containing microplastics is then used as fertilizer on agricultural fields, where it can contaminate crops and re-enter the food chain – continuing the cycle all over again.

Hay wrapped with plastic cover

Livestock farms use large amounts of plastic every day – to store feed, cover silage, wrap bales, and even as toys for environmental enrichment. Over time, these plastics are left outside, break down into smaller pieces, and contaminate feed and the farm environment with microplastics.

Some animals drink from old plastic containers that have started to break apart, while others play with plastic objects and may accidentally ingest them.