“As we know, we are in the era of renewable energy. Conventional mining is monumentally destructive, but phytomining can give us a sustainable, domestic supply of nickel to help fuel the green transition.”
– Om Parkash Dhankher, professor of molecular biology and phytoremediation in UMass Amherst’s Stockbridge School of Agriculture
This plant, often regarded as a weed, possesses three valuable characteristics: the ability to absorb and store nickel from the soil, enhance soil fertility, and provide oil-rich seeds for biofuel production.
Meet Camelina sativa, a plant with significant potential to contribute to a sustainable economy!
A major challenge in transitioning to a green economy in the United States is securing the raw materials required for energy-efficient technologies, such as batteries and electric vehicles. While all plants absorb minerals, certain species, known as hyperaccumulators, can store specific minerals in high concentrations. One such plant, Odontarrhena (formerly Alyssum murale), is particularly adept at accumulating nickel, a critical component in electrical applications. However, due to its slow growth, low biomass, and invasive nature, it is not an ideal candidate for large-scale cultivation. This is where Camelina sativa becomes a major player in the green economy: Camelina is already widely cultivated in the US and can produce multiple harvests in the same time it takes Alyssum to mature.
Professor Om Parkash Dhankher and his team aim to transfer Alyssum’s nickel-accumulating capabilities to Camelina through genetic engineering. Their goal is to identify and integrate the genes responsible for hyperaccumulation and determine optimal soil conditions for nickel uptake. By improving soil conditions, the research team hopes to enhance the engineered Camelina’s efficiency in extracting nickel. This approach, known as phytomining, offers an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional mining, allowing nickel extraction while restoring soil fertility.
Dhankher estimates that phytomining could supply 20–30% of the projected U.S. nickel demand and believes there is enough nickel in U.S. soils to sustain phytomining for 50 years.