Issued by 2026 Magazine

Biodegradable mulch: 360° analysis via the SOPAM project

Science

AUTHOR : Elsa VINUESA, Scientific and Technical Manager, French Plasticulture and Agro-environment Committee (CPA)

SOPAM (Alternative Mulching Solutions in Market Gardening) on biodegradable mulch was completed in 2025. We look back at the conclusions of this ambitious multi-stakeholder project. Here is an overview of all aspects of the project.

Key findings

The project was co-led by the French Interprofessional Technical Centre for Fruit and Vegetables (CTIFL) and the CPA. It was carried out with several technical institutes and partners¹, and was based on seven experimental sites and a harmonised protocol for comparing materials, thicknesses, colours and behaviour in real life conditions.

Biodegradable mulches retain the advantages of polyethylene mulching – weed control, water savings, clean fruit, early harvests – while they can also be dug into the soil at the end of the growing season, facilitating end-of-life management and reducing associated costs. Their biodegradation depends on many factors: film composition, weather, soil quality, technical management and soil conditions.

A unique database now compiles observations made on several crops, including melons, with detailed monitoring throughout the production cycle, from the mechanical performance of the film to the presence of flakes on the fruit.

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