An unassuming plant—considered a noxious weed by some—may be the key to fueling a green economy in the U.S.
An unassuming plant—considered a noxious weed by some—may be the key to fueling a green economy in the U.S. University of Massachusetts Amherst scientists are working with Camelina sativa, a member of the mustard family, to enhance a trio of the plant’s superpowers: absorbing trace amounts of the critical mineral nickel from the soil and improving the soil’s fertility, storing that nickel in its biomass where it can be harvested and extracted for use, and, in its seeds, providing a rich source of the oil needed for biofuels.
While we may know what technology we need to transition the U.S. to a green economy, having the raw materials to do so is another matter entirely, especially when it comes to the critical materials and minerals that are the backbone of energy-efficient batteries and electrical vehicles. All plants absorb nutrients and minerals from the soil and incorporate them into their leaves and stems, but there are some, known as “hyperaccumulators,” that have evolved the ability to accumulate specific minerals in staggering quantities.
Read more at: University of Massachusetts Amherst
Om Parkash Dhankher in the greenhouse with the Camelina sativa plants (left) that he’s working to turn into nickel hyperaccumulators. (Photo Credit: John Solem/UMass Amherst)
