Some useful information for SIDS on agricultural plastics at the recent FAO side event:

Plastic is now used in all aspects of agriculture, this includes: polymer-coated fertilizer, drip irrigation, irrigation pipes, plant support ties, pesticide containers, harvesting crates, nets for bales, film wrap for bales, covers for bunkers, ear tags, tree guards, tree labels, fishing nets, boat gear, traps for shellfish.
There are some promising alternatives including: biomass to replace plastic notching films, reusable and durable products such as glass and durable plastic covers for greenhouses, and biodegradable polymers.
The soon to be negotiated plastics treaty will be complex and doesn’t ensure the eradication of plastics in agriculture practices. The FAO Committee on Agriculture is considering a new voluntary code of conduct.
Plastic can influence the carbon and nutrient cycle due to changes in soil structure and microbial/fungal abundance; plastic in soil can be exported to other ecosystems by waterflow and coastal/marine environments; and mulch film is a large source of plastic in the soil, as is sewage sludge which accumulates large amounts of microplastics
Proposed solutions include: nature based solutions like: nature positive food production (regenerative, non-depleting, and non-destructive use of naturel sources).
Ghost gear is an issue for SIDS. That is fishing gear left in the water. Best practice management is: prevention (eg. limit on time gear can be left in the water, providing somewhere to dispose of old gear at port); mitigation (eg: lost gear reporting systems), and cure (clearing lost gear hotspots, retrieving gear while at sea)