Setting up a sustainable RTI partnership to close knowledge gaps in microplastic pollution and respective technological solutions
A network of national and European partners from relevant stakeholder groups will be established dedicated to work inter- and transdisciplinary with joint efforts on providing still missing information for a better understanding of the microplastic issue, improving knowledge transfer between the various stakeholders to expand to critical size to eventually put existing and new knowledge to work.

Identifying and mapping microplastic activities in Lower Austria (NÖ), Austria and EU
The aim is to collect information on relevant funding programmes, policies, research projects (completed and on-going), experts and existing collaborations, facilities, know-how (including available data sets and publications), educational programmes and applications (existing and in development) in the context of agricultural soil. These data will be organised in a database that will be available for project internal use.

Strengthening Lower Austria as a location for research and innovation
Together with farmer-, industry-, and consumer associations, primary, secondary and agricultural schools, researchers and industry/SME a strategic agenda for microplastic in NÖ will be elaborated to better understand the present microplastic situation, foster regional efforts and support a structural change for a more sustainable agriculture through enhanced research efforts.

Enhancing research on microplastic impact in soil and biodegradable plastic alternatives
Knowledge gaps on e.g., plastic materials currently used in agriculture, available biodegradable alternatives and ongoing developments, degradation pathways of microplastic in agricultural soil, interaction of microplastic with soil microbial community and plants, potential toxicity and risk shall be addressed by intensifying research & development through national and European projects to drive economic, technological and social development.

Exchanging knowledge across different stakeholder groups
The NETmicroplastic project will maximize its outreach and impact through effective and targeted dissemination of project outputs, drawing on the networks and communication channels of the steering board and targeted communication and exchange with multi-level stakeholders to support a sustainable mobilisation of a wide diversity of actors important in the microplastic debate.