Plastics are used all the way through the food production cycle making our lives easier, more efficient, and tastier. An important part of modern farming is 'plasticulture'. 'Plasticulture' is a portmanteau of 'plastic' and 'agriculture' and refers to the use of plastic in agricultural applications. This can range from ground level 'plastic mulch' to large polytunnels and plastic greenhouses. Plastic is an ideal mulch for many applications as it is easily deployed, easy to remove and is very long-lasting. For the uninitiated, mulch is used to insulate and maintain a constant temperature and humidity in the soil it covers, and to prevent weed growth and soil erosion from wind and water. Farmers use plastic mulch to this end by covering their plots of land in strips of it and then poking seeds through the thin material. In dry and arid climates, plastic mulch is very valuable in the constant fight against evaporation. Once used the plastic mulch is removed from the fields and can then be recycled.