Researchers in the US and abroad believe we could help decarbonize and electrify the transportation sector with hardy, fast-growing plants.
From the article:
Getting nickel and other useful metals from plants is made possible through a process called phytomining. But, as you’ve probably guessed, everyday plants don’t collect enough of these metals to make the extraction commercially viable. That’s where a French biotech startup called “Genomines” comes in. Genomine’s relies on biologically engineered plants it calls “hyperaccumulators.” These plants naturally pull metals and minerals out from the soil they’re planted in through their roots, and store it in their stems and leaves, where Genomine can harvest it later.
I knew there were GMO plants made to remove heavy metals and other toxins from the soil at higher rates to clean polluted areas, but it had never occurred to me that you could use plants to mine desirable metals too.
This is still a long way from being operational, but if this company can deliver on even a fraction of its promises it will be a really big deal. Their early estimate suggest that they would be able to extract metal at much lower densities than is needed to be commercially viable for traditional mining operations--metals that will be particularly needed for the transition to clean energy.
Wouldn't it be amazing to live in a future where a mine just looks like a field of flowers?
