Consumers, investors, and policymakers are scrabbling to minimize the effects of climate change globally and prevent further damage to people, wildlife and the planet.

This post looks at the major challenges in achieving Net Zero emissions in new Plant Nurseries.

All of these issues are similar to industries globally:

• energy use
• carbon costs of transport
• reducing fossil fuel based inputs
• going plastic-free

However, what do these challenges mean specifically for trees, plant and food production?

As we enter the last decade of our carbon budget before the planet reaches 1.5 degrees Celsius (based on current Carbon Dioxide emissions), scientists and policymakers finally converge in the appreciation of the critical need to grow MORE diverse plants and trees.

Trees have been scientifically proven to be beneficial both in:

· urban environments to mitigate increasingly volatile temperature and rain events

· & in food production for pollinators, water conservation, and soil health

Everywhere there is an increasing demand for MORE plants and trees.

Rather than repeat the mistakes of the past, establishing new nurseries and companies in this era, we can do things better from a Carbon Emissions and planetary health perspective/

However, growing more plants and trees, in a “Carbon NET-ZERO” focus is more challenging than you may think.

The challenges in starting new companies, and specifically new Plant Nurseries with the aim of NetZero Carbon are being tackled globally, and there are exciting new innovations that can be applied to commercial operations.

For the uninitiated, this post may help you understand what needs to happen, everywhere, pretty quickly, if we are to reach net zero emissions and save the planet, and ourselves, before we all burn up.

Here are some thoughts on the key challenges and the opportunities and dilemmas that must be addressed.

1. Plastics

“Plastics are evil” is an easy slogan to adopt, primarily because everyone knows that they are produced using petrochemicals. Plastic waste is in our food, water supplies, and rain and has even been found in breast milk. Getting rid of plastic waste as it kills marine life in oceans, and preventing the burning of plastic bags — are issues that have received a lot of media attention.

If current trends continue, according to scientists in Science Daily, Plastics will represent 17% of the global carbon budget by 2050. But how easily can they be replaced?

(A recent global UN treaty has been adopted on the reduction of plastics, we’ll see what happens!)

Alternatives are being developed — out of sugar, corn, seaweed, and potato peelings, but each raw material also has an ecological cost.

So the question or challenge here is:

· Can we afford to grow more “raw material”, such as sugar cane for biological plastics?

-OR do we need to devise new methods of plant propagation which rely less on plastics, such as field-grown trees and plants?

In a plant nursery, the primary use of plastics are:

· Plant pots, seed trays

· Weed mulch/landscape fabrics

· Hoop House poly coverings, Greenhouse polycarbonate covers

I’ll take each of these in turn.

a. Growing containers

I have done an insane amount of research on plant pots — and have not found a realistic alternative to using plastic if growing on a commercial scale. A new product that makes tray loads of “micro soil blocks”, may help smaller nurseries avoid using seed trays — but these soil blocks are usually kept in, guess what? Yep, plastic trays. Wooden trays are less durable but more sustainable, but as yet not widely available for commercial production.

There are products available made from RECYCLED plastic. Yes, plastic is difficult and messy to recycle but if even some of those plastic bottles in common use can be recycled then I will happily purchase plant pots and seed trays made out of them. (eg. those by Bootstrap Farmer).

CLOTH and PAPER pots are options too, for transportation at the very least to market, and the possibility of recycling clothes destined for landfill to make plants is an exciting opportunity for someone.

UPDATE: WIN-WIN

New air pots are now being made of recycled milk cartons in the US! Yes! And they have holes — so can grow plants long term, with better root structures.

Challenge: How quickly can commercial growers, switch to completely renewable or sustainable materials — Is it better to REUSE rather than recycle — and just establish networks within industries so plastics do not end up in landfill?

b. Weed Mulch

Using weed mulch has been a game changer for many small to medium plant and tree growers. Labor costs are significantly reduced and labor, and as labor is increasingly expensive and difficult to find, this is significant.

Degradable weed mulch and landscape fabrics made from corn starch are now in use. However, some growers find them difficult, expensive, and time-consuming to replace each year. Can biodegradable mulch be viable economically?

On the other hand, heavy-duty landscape plastic fabric is long-lasting, and may not need to be replaced for many years.

Challenge/Opportunity — Is plastic weed mulch and landscape fabric justifiable because of the carbon cost? Or can the increased weeding labor without mulch or annually replaced bio mulch be economically absorbed in product cost?

At what point do we begin to value carbon costs MORE than increased labor costs?

c. Green Houses & Hoop Houses

Small to medium plant and tree growers need to protect their plants for maximum efficiency and this is normally done in unheated Hoop houses and heated greenhouses, made from plastic.

Unlike plastic pots and containers that can be reused almost forever, plastic coverings for hoop houses need to be replaced every 3–4 years due to UV damage.

Of course, glass can be used but this increases startup production costs hugely. Polycarbonates do not deteriorate as quickly as plastic sheeting — but again do increase startup costs and are also made from plastic.

Greenhouse heating still comes from a mix of fossil fuels, and wood-fired burners. Interesting experiments in using Passive Solar greenhouses, and compost piles to heat greenhouses are providing alternatives for growers who want to more away from fossil fuels.

Challenge/Opportunity: Where is the affordable, sustainable alternative to plastic film coverings for hoop houses? Can the “alternative” fashion industry produce more sustainable fabric that horticulturists could use?

Or should sustainable nurseries just grow in the field?

2. Soils

Peat has been the most popular starting substrate for growers for over 40 years because it provides the perfect growing medium for new seeds. However, (despite marketing) we know peat is NOT a sustainable resource.

One alternative, Coconut Coir is increasingly used on a small scale, but this has a huge transportation carbon footprint. But is useful in countries where coconuts are grown locally.

Site-produced compost is an alternative if enough biomass can be produced onsite, and cheap/free compost “feed” can be sourced locally. If local Brewery waste, rice hulls, or woodchips can be sourced producing potting soils and composts can help nurseries create a “closed loop” system.

Pine fines and composted pine bark are also increasingly used as potting soils but come at a hefty price, and carbon cost if they are transported large distances.

For a nursery based on regenerative agriculture principles, on-site livestock or poultry and onsite production of biomass are normally part of plot design. Fast-growing coppiced wood stands can provide enough woodchip for onsite needs within 4–5 years. However, this necessitates a larger area for the setup of the plant nursery.

Challenge: Is it more possible for tree nurseries to add onsite “closed loop” production of potting soils in the amounts they need? Can other industries such as breweries, be encouraged to donate their production waste to NEW local nurseries? Or do new systems need to be developed to pair compost and potting soil producers with commercial nurseries?

3. Nonfossil-fuel based Fertilisers and Pesticides

Growers and farmers are increasingly aware of the detrimental effects of fossil fuel-based fertilizers on their soils and plants, as well as local insect life, and water quality.

Organic alternatives are now widely available and increasingly used by smaller plant nurseries.

Onsite worm farms for vermicompost teas and plants such as comfrey are also viable alternatives for fertilization and pest control is increasingly managed through pollinating plants (Insect Pest Management). However, the percentage of growers using organics instead of fossil fuel-based products is still small. Both in plant and tree propagation and in agriculture as a whole.

Challenge/Opportunity: We need more accessible training for those growers wanting to switch to organic alternatives to petrol-based fertilizers and pesticides.

4. Drought and Fire Resilience

This isn’t an obvious consideration to those not living in drought-prone and fire-prone areas. However, as the last few years have shown, wherever you are in the world, drought and fire are becoming increasingly common hazards.

Nurseries can use landscaping to protect their growing operations and prepare for unexpected droughts with water reservoirs, and storage tanks.

Areas of severe drought, such as California, where consumers are already facing water use restrictions are not great sites to set up new plant nurseries. However, as wastewater technologies are increasingly implemented future opportunities may be more viable.

Challenge/Opportunity: Greater adoption of water conservation and wastewater recycling systems. Integrated water storage and management in new plant nurseries.

5. Transport & Machinery

The stranglehold of fossil fuel-based transport systems is slowly being eased, with the introduction of affordable electricity-powered substitutes, in most areas.

Transport of soils and plants around a site, and to the point of sale is traditionally carried out by petrol vehicles. Unfortunately, smaller electric tractors and trucks are not yet widely available, as electric vehicles. (Although electric carts are increasingly used)

Although it’s great that more brands are launching electric tractors, the bad news is that smaller machines are not yet available as electric vehicles. The BCS for example, or walking tractors, are still petrol-based.

The global market for an electric alternative for BCS is huge — especially as investments into sustainable agriculture globally, in the African continent particularly, have increased.

Electric trucks for transport to wholesalers, or local markets are prohibitively expensive, at the moment, for small to medium-scale nurseries and need to be incorporated into mid-term production plans.

Challenge/Opportunity: Rollout of electric vehicles small and large for growers and long-term planning for eventual NetZero after phasing out petrol-powered vehicles and machinery.

6. Funding

You may consider that the benefits of producing “carbon absorption” machines, in the form of plants and trees greatly outweigh the carbon costs of production.

Or that given the huge resources currently being poured into R&D in agriculture and sustainable food production globally we will have all the alternatives we need very soon.

However many investors and corporates are looking for a “fast return” or quick fix for their investments, and plants and trees take time to grow.

On average a tree may need a minimum of 2 years from seed to plant for outdoor plantings. Although trees can absorb 13 lbs of Carbon Dioxide a year as seedlings, to mitigate Carbon Emissions a tree and plant nursery needs to establish a standing trees area (which can also be in the form of a shelter break.

Plant and tree nurseries may not see any return for the first few years in production, and despite the current global shortage of tree seedlings and plants, there are no widely available low-interest/no-interest grants and loans available.

Unfortunately, I think this is the same for most small “ECO” STARTUPS. Although the return for a low carbon emission nursery is almost guaranteed, due to increased demand, this is not the case for all enterprises.

CONCLUSION

From the above you can, I hope to begin to understand what is and is not possible when running an economically successful operation which aims to be Carbon Neutral.

Furthermore, I hope I have highlighted what lies at the core of the current debate on delivering food and products at Zero carbon i.e. “Where can we afford to compromise?” & “What must be prioritized?”

If all petrol-fuelled vehicles stopped running tomorrow, the carbon cost of producing plastics for plant growing would not be SO impactful. But that isn’t going to happen, is it?

The same could be said for stopping the production of plastic bags — for shoppers. Although single-use plastics are increasingly banned in many countries — they are still available today, in 2022 so when or how will that stop?

Regenerative agriculture is becoming the buzzword as the only panacea to our food production systems. However, we need a CARBON NET ZERO REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURAL system to save the planet.

This needs HUGE INVESTMENT and a shift in consumer, investor, policymaker, and producer BEHAVIOUR.

Not just an investment into “scientific studies”, but ACTUAL RESOURCES.

GOOD PLACES TO INVEST:-

• Expansion of product investment in the production of sustainable plastics/substitutes in ALL INDUSTRIES GLOBALLY (#wedonothavetime for excuses)

• Affordable loans of “NEW” electrical farm machinery, WITH the renewable solar/wind generators needed to run them (especially in developing countries looking to restart smallholder farms)

• Water management education to develop resilience across the industry

• Free training in the use of organic fertilizers and pesticide replacements and assisted phase-out of fossil-fuel-based products

• Even greater recycling of manufacturing products across industries, such as brewery waste for compost feedstock

And last, but most important, the education of eco investors, bankers, and corporate companies on the costs of setting up sustainable projects that may not yield profits immediately.

Further challenges specific to the Plant Nursery world also include:-Sustainably Sourcing “healthy seeds”, which I will write more about soon.

I am continuing my research, and hoping to raise funding for my own NetZero tree and plant project which I hope to start soon.

(SUPPORT MY NEW CARBON NEUTRAL PLANT NURSERY STARTUP !)

#GREENINVESTMENT #CARBONNETZERO #CLIMATECRISIS #FOODPRODUCTION #PESTICIDES

Written by Parm Kaur. (First published on Medium)