Anyone who wants to eat asparagus from the Rhine-Main region before Easter or who wants to enjoy local strawberries early in the year will appreciate the use of protective films in agriculture.

Particularly in southern Hesse, producers of asparagus are increasingly focusing on packing the fields in one or even multiple layers or setting up poly tunnels in order to protect the delicate precious vegetables from late frosts, for example.

Not only the much earlier market readiness - this year the season officially started on April 8th - are mentioned as advantages.

Markus Schug

Correspondent Rhein-Main-Süd.

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In addition, fewer weeds grow under sheeting, which means that the use of herbicides can be reduced;

The covering also has a positive effect on water consumption.

And last but not least, asparagus usually tastes milder and more tender when grown under foil.

These in turn could be used for several years before they are disposed of with the help of recycling companies that specialize in this, according to the working group asparagus Südhessen.

412 football fields covered

On the other hand, the Worfelden Nature Conservation Association refers to the undisputed disadvantages, such as the entry of plastic into the soil, which in the Groß-Gerau district would like to encourage discussion about the increasing use of film. Around 38 percent of the agricultural area around Worfelden and Klein-Gerau was covered over a longer period of time this year - which corresponds to an area of ​​412 soccer fields. As a result, the habitat of birds and other animals, which is becoming increasingly scarce, is being restricted even more.

The populations of lapwing, partridge and skylark have declined dramatically in recent years. “The Groß-Gerau district is part of the eco-model region south. It doesn't fit together, ”said the first district councilor, Walter Astheimer (The Greens), at a press conference on the controversial subject of film cultivation in the district office. In order to achieve a balance between agricultural production and the preservation of biodiversity, farmers, nature conservationists and environmentalists have to get involved as much as possible, according to the message from the district building. But the Hessian Ministry of the Environment should also react to restrict the use of foils on arable land through appropriate regulations.

The district and nature conservationists consider around ten percent of the film surface to be reasonable; To compensate for this, however, additional retreat areas would have to be created for ground-nesters and, for example, wide green strips created.