MGI's Plastic Farming embodies a crucial response to Bangladesh's climate challenges, converting plastic waste into a solution for 4 million climate refugees. Combining environmental conservation with hydroponic farming, this initiative not only tackles plastic pollution but also supports stable livelihoods for those affected by floods and erosion. By repurposing plastic for sustainable agriculture, it aligns with Sustainable Development Goals, addressing climate action, life below water, and responsible consumption and production, showcasing MGI's commitment to holistic solutions for a resilient and sustainable future.

Bangladesh faces massive plastic pollution. However, due to a lack of waste management systems and the absence of recycling behaviour, most people in Bangladesh don't take ownership and act to decrease the amount of plastic pollution. Since the nation is a delta country, it has a lot of water bodies and in turn, the plastic ends up in the rivers and seas. There has also been massive land shrinkage due to rising water levels and floods, leading to almost 4M landless farmers.

In Bangladesh, MGI identified the pressing environmental issues of plastic pollution and agricultural land loss due to rising water levels, floods, and riverbank erosion, resulting in over 4 million climate refugees. Rivers in the delta nation carried a staggering 73,000 tons of plastic waste daily, negatively impacting aquatic life and contributing to global warming. MGI, in collaboration with Bidyanondo and local agriculture officers, embarked on an innovative initiative—Plastic Farming.

The initiative addressed both challenges simultaneously by repurposing plastic waste for hydroponic farming, providing a sustainable livelihood for climate refugees. Extensive education programs were conducted, teaching farmers how to collect plastic, create floating farms, and mitigate potential micro-plastic issues using fungi.

This holistic approach not only resolved environmental issues but also empowered landless farmers with a sustainable farming method.

Plastic Farming aligns seamlessly with MGI's brand commitment to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals. By offering a solution to plastic waste and supporting climate refugees in securing a stable livelihood, MGI actively contributes to positive changes. The initiative goes beyond environmental impact, creating societal benefits and reinforcing MGI's brand perception as a responsible corporate entity dedicated to environmental and social responsibility. Plastic Farming stands as a testament to MGI's commitment to sustainable development, embodying the brand's ethos of driving positive change within the communities it serves.

One of MGI's core pillars is sustainability, with Plastic Farming's prioritisation of education, healthcare and environment.

Bangladesh's vulnerability to climate change and environmental degradation, exacerbated by its low-lying terrain, poses a severe threat to agricultural land. Over 4 million farmers have become landless due to rising water levels and floods. Simultaneously, the nation's rivers carry a staggering 73,000 tons of plastic waste daily, contributing to aquatic harm and global warming.

Brand Values:

MGI, as a conglomerate, places environmental responsibility at its core. Acknowledging the existing environmental inequality in Bangladesh, MGI felt compelled to initiate change.

Brief:

Given MGI's substantial plastic footprint and Bangladesh's environmental challenges, the project aimed to devise a solution that could significantly change the current scenario.

Objectives:

Empower climate refugees and landless farmers to rebuild their livelihoods.

Mitigate plastic pollution across Bangladesh's water bodies.

Strengthen MGI's commitment to sustainability, aligning with global environmental goals.

Bangladesh grapples with severe plastic pollution, exacerbated by the absence of waste management and recycling practices. The cultural climate reveals a collective lack of awareness and ownership, hindering efforts to curb plastic pollution. The nation's delta geography amplifies the issue, channelling plastic into rivers and seas. Concurrently, rising water levels and floods have resulted in substantial land shrinkage, rendering nearly 4 million individuals landless.

Plastic Farming, addressing both environmental and societal concerns, resonates within this context. In navigating media regulations and civil liberties issues, the initiative champions inclusivity and partnerships, fostering a collaborative approach to combat plastic pollution. MGI's commitment to environmental and social responsibility through Plastic Farming aligns with the cultural, economic, and environmental challenges in Bangladesh, making a notable impact on the nation's landscape. The initiative embodies the essence of resilience and collaboration needed to address complex issues within the cultural and environmental fabric of Bangladesh.

Facing the dual challenges of agricultural land loss due to global warming, rendering over 4 million farmers climate refugees, and the pervasive issue of rivers carrying 73,000 tons of plastic waste daily, MGI and Bidyanondo collaborated on a groundbreaking initiative – 'Plastic Farming.' This innovative solution addresses both concerns simultaneously by transforming plastic waste into floating farms. Two years of research led by Dr. Chayon Goswami of Bangladesh Agricultural University revealed that fungi can consume micro-plastics. Harnessing this discovery, Plastic Farming repurposes plastic waste for hydroponic farming, presenting a sustainable solution to climate refugees. The initiative ingeniously combines environmental stewardship and community support, illustrating how a single creative idea can positively impact both ecological and social challenges.

The initiative's strategy entailed collaboration with Bidyanondo and local government agriculture officers to educate farmers, ensuring the widespread adoption of Plastic Farming. Data was meticulously gathered from reputable news portals, including The Daily Star, The Financial Express BD, and Dhaka Tribune, highlighting the impact of plastic pollution and agricultural land scarcity.

The primary target audience comprised climate refugees, while individuals interested in hydroponic farming served as the secondary target. Recognizing the escalating impact of global warming on agricultural lands and the rivers' daily transport of plastic waste, MGI's 'Plastic Farming' initiative offered a unique solution. By introducing climate refugees to this innovative farming method, it not only repurposed plastic waste, mitigating pollution, but also created vital farmland, providing a sustainable livelihood for those affected by climate-related displacement.

To tackle the challenges of land loss, and plastic pollution in rivers, MGI, Bidyanondo, and local government agriculture officers executed a groundbreaking initiative—Plastic Farming. Following two years of research with agro-scientists, the team discovered that fungi can effectively decompose microplastics. Leveraging this insight, they repurposed plastic waste for hydroponic farming to aid climate refugees in securing sustainable livelihoods.

Implementation began with comprehensive education programs conducted by MGI and Bidyanondo in climate-affected regions. Farmers were trained hands-on, learning to collect and repurpose plastic to create floating farms. The initiative emphasized recycling the plastic after a 4-year cycle.

The initiative achieved scale through nationwide activations, a free website, video tutorials, and manuals accompanying MGI products. Thousands of farmers were educated, enabling the collection and repurposing of tons of plastic waste, creating significant farming ground and offering a solution to climate refugees.

In the face of Bangladesh's severe plastic pollution crisis and insufficient waste management infrastructure, Plastic Farming emerged as a transformative force. The initiative successfully addressed Sustainable Development Goal 13 by collecting 125 tons of plastic waste, providing a tangible solution to environmental degradation. Through 187 comprehensive training sessions, both online and offline, 15,232 farmers received hands-on education, empowering them with sustainable farming practices.

The impact extended beyond agriculture, with 9,000+ climate refugees transitioning into farmers, reclaiming 2.4 million acres of potential farmland. The initiative triggered behavioral change, reaching a vast audience through 102,000 distributed flyers, garnering a campaign PR value of over 2.1 million USD, and achieving a remarkable 11,573,842 social media reach. With 2.4 million views on video tutorials and 2.5 million social media engagements, Plastic Farming not only contributed significantly to environmental conservation but also showcased its scalability and potential for widespread adoption.

The practice is changing the fates of landless farmers and creating potential farmland across the nation.

The activations, workshops and tutorials for how to begin Plastic Farming continues to be spread both digitally and physically. We will spread it throughout the nation through the existing partnerships with local government’s agriculture offices.

Internationally MGI has a substantial presence in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, South Africa, and North and South America. The next step for this idea is to spread it globally.

Approximately 312500 tons of C02 emission prevented by recycling 125 tons of plastic.

While floating farms had existed in Bangladesh, the previous models wouldn’t last and weren’t cost effective for farmers. We adapted the low-tech solution to both combat plastic pollution and to remove potential microplastic by usage of fungi. Thereby, ensuring better results for both the environment and the yields of farmers.