Emerging research highlights the potential of hyperaccumulator plants to extract rare earths from secondary soils, offering a greener, regional-compatible approach to meet the rising demand for critical materials amid the clean-energy transition.
A growing body of research is strengthening the case for phytomining as a lower-carbon route to rare earth element recovery, with new work in Communications Earth & Environment framing hyperaccumulator plants as a practical complement to conventional mining rather than a replacement for it.
The study focuses on soils and other secondary sources that already contain rare earth elements in measurable amounts, but often at concentrations too diffuse for efficient extraction by standard mining methods. That challenge is increasingly relevant as demand rises for materials used in magnets, catalysts, displays and fertilisers, especially as the clean-energy transition drives greater consumption of magnet-related rare earths.
Researchers argue that certain plants can be used as biological collection systems, drawing rare earths from soil into above-ground biomass that can then be harvested and processed. Among the species highlighted are Dicranopteris linearis and Blechnopsis orientalis in tropical and subtropical settings, together with Phytolacca americana in temperate regions. The report says these plants can accumulate more than 0.1% rare earths by dry weight, a threshold that makes them especially promising for agromining applications.
The geographical pattern matters. Dicranopteris linearis appears particularly suited to lighter rare earths in warmer climates, while Phytolacca americana shows stronger uptake of heavier rare earths in cooler regions. That kind of regional specialisation could make phytomining more than a laboratory curiosity, allowing producers to match plant choice to local geology and target elements.
Processing the harvested biomass remains the central technical hurdle. The paper reviews established hydrometallurgical routes, including acid leaching, impurity removal, oxalate precipitation and calcination, to produce rare-earth oxides. Reported recovery efficiencies approach 89%, but the authors note that these routes are still energy-intensive and solvent-heavy, which limits their commercial appeal.
That has prompted interest in alternative downstream uses for the plant material itself. One option is to convert rare-earth-rich biomass directly into functional products such as specialty fertilisers or catalysts, capturing value without the full cost of conventional refining. The review points to ash from Dicranopteris linearis as an example of a material that can support plant growth and stress tolerance, although the environmental safety of returning such material to land must be assessed carefully because of the presence of co-accumulated elements.
The environmental case is one of the strongest arguments in favour of the approach. Life-cycle analysis in the study suggests that phytomining can come close to carbon neutrality once plant-based carbon sequestration is taken into account, while conventional mining carries a much heavier emissions burden. A separate recent review also describes phytomining as a useful tool for reclaiming degraded or abandoned mining land, turning marginal sites into productive assets rather than permanent liabilities.
Other research is beginning to fill in some of the agronomic gaps. A study from Idaho identified the native grass Pseudoroegneria spicata as a promising rare earth accumulator, suggesting the technology may be adaptable beyond fern-based systems. Another paper found that foliar silicon application can reduce stress in Phytolacca americana while improving rare earth uptake, hinting at a route to higher yields through crop management rather than genetic modification alone. Work on rapid electrothermal calcination has also indicated that biomass processing can be accelerated while cutting costs and emissions substantially.
Even so, the field remains at an early stage. The main barriers are still low metal concentrations in biomass, the absence of inexpensive recovery systems and the need for field-scale validation. The authors call for breeding programmes, better cultivars and international collaboration to improve performance and prove viability outside controlled conditions.
For industrial decarbonisation professionals, the significance is less in the idea that plants will displace mines than in the possibility that they can diversify supply, reduce land degradation and create a circular pathway for low-grade or legacy material streams. In that sense, phytomining looks less like a niche botanical experiment and more like an emerging process option for a minerals sector under pressure to cut emissions and widen the resource base.
- https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=18640 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-026-03549-1 – This article discusses the use of hyperaccumulator plants for extracting rare earth elements (REEs) from soils through phytomining, presenting it as a sustainable alternative to traditional mining methods. The study highlights the selection of plant species capable of accumulating over 0.1 wt% REEs, such as tropical and subtropical ferns like Dicranopteris linearis and Blechnopsis orientalis, as well as the temperate forb Phytolacca americana. It also explores recovery techniques like acid leaching and calcination, and considers converting REE-enriched biomass into functional materials like specialty fertilizers and catalysts. The article concludes with a life-cycle assessment comparing phytomining to conventional mining, suggesting that phytomining can approach carbon neutrality when plant-based CO₂ sequestration is considered. ([nature.com](https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-026-03549-1?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972502604X?dgcid=rss_sd_all – This study investigates the potential of native hyperaccumulator plants in Idaho, USA, for phytomining rare earth elements (REEs) from surface soils. It identifies Pseudoroegneria spicata, an Idaho native grass, as an effective REE hyperaccumulator. The research evaluates the REE hyperaccumulation abilities of P. spicata and Phalaris arundinacea, assessing the performance of seven varieties within each species. The findings suggest that these hyperaccumulating grass species, especially P. spicata, hold promise for Idaho-based phytomining and warrant further study and development. ([sciencedirect.com](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896972502604X?dgcid=rss_sd_all&utm_source=openai))
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001074225006060 – This research examines the effects of foliar silicon application on enhancing rare earth element (REE) accumulation in the hyperaccumulator Phytolacca americana. The study aims to assess the impact of silicon on REE agromining using P. americana and elucidate the underlying mechanisms. The findings indicate that silicon application can effectively mitigate metal(loid) stress in P. americana, promoting REE tolerance and accumulation, thereby enhancing its potential for agromining applications. ([sciencedirect.com](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1001074225006060?utm_source=openai))
- https://labs.sciety.org/articles/by?article_doi=10.21203%2Frs.3.rs-6401377%2Fv1 – This article presents a rapid electrothermal calcination (REC) strategy tailored for REE-enriched biomass, enabling ultrafast thermal activation that significantly enhances REE extractability using dilute acid leaching. The REC process is demonstrated to be versatile across various organic hyperaccumulator matrices, including Blechnum orientale and Dicranopteris linearis. Comparative life-cycle and technoeconomic analyses reveal that REC reduces carbon emissions and operating costs by over 70% relative to conventional furnace-based methods, establishing REC as a green, scalable, and cross-species-compatible platform for advancing sustainable REE recovery via phytomining. ([labs.sciety.org](https://labs.sciety.org/articles/by?article_doi=10.21203%2Frs.3.rs-6401377%2Fv1&utm_source=openai))
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669025019958 – This comprehensive review discusses the deliberate cultivation of hyperaccumulator plants for phytomining as a promising industrial crop strategy for extracting valuable metals from marginal, metal-rich soils while simultaneously generating biomass for energy and materials. The review highlights that phytomining extracts valuable metals such as nickel, cobalt, thallium, and gold from low-grade soils using hyperaccumulators, and that gold phytomining can yield up to $85,690 per hectare. It also notes that biomass combustion provides energy and metal-rich ash, lowering costs and risks, and that tropical climates support year-round biomass growth. The review concludes that hyperaccumulators absorb metals at concentrations much higher than those in the soil, enabling effective metal recovery. ([sciencedirect.com](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0926669025019958?utm_source=openai))
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852424004541 – This review examines phytomining (agromining), which utilizes plants for eco-friendly rare earth element (REE) extraction, contributing to the circular economy and exploiting untapped metal resources in enriched soils. It discusses critical parameters like soil pH, Casparian strip, and REE valence that influence soil and plant uptake bioavailability. The review highlights that hyperaccumulator species efficiently accumulate REEs, serving as energy resources. Despite a lack of a comprehensive database, phytomining exhibits lower environmental impacts due to minimal chemical usage and CO₂ absorption. The review proposes phytomining as a system for REEs extraction, remediating contaminated areas, and rehabilitating abandoned mines. It concludes that the phytomining of REEs offers a promising avenue for sustainable REEs extraction but requires technological advancements to realize its full potential. ([sciencedirect.com](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960852424004541?utm_source=openai))
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article references a study published on 28 April 2026 in *Communications Earth & Environment* ([nature.com](https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-026-03549-1?utm_source=openai)). The news piece was published on 7 May 2026, indicating a 9-day gap. While this is slightly over the 7-day threshold, the content appears to be original and not recycled from other sources. However, the slight delay in reporting may affect the freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article does not provide direct quotes from the referenced study. Instead, it paraphrases the study’s findings. This approach makes it challenging to verify the exact wording and context of the original statements. The lack of direct quotes reduces the score due to potential misinterpretation or misrepresentation of the original content.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The news piece originates from AZoMining, a niche publication focusing on mining and materials science. While it provides a summary of the study, the lack of direct quotes and the niche nature of the source raise concerns about the independence and reliability of the information presented.
Plausibility check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about phytomining and its potential for rare earth element recovery align with existing research in the field. The referenced study in *Communications Earth & Environment* ([nature.com](https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-026-03549-1?utm_source=openai)) supports these claims. However, the absence of direct quotes and the reliance on paraphrased content from a niche source slightly diminish the overall confidence in the accuracy of the information.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The news article provides a summary of a recent study on phytomining and rare earth element recovery. However, the reliance on paraphrased content from a single, niche source without direct quotes or corroboration from other independent sources raises concerns about the accuracy and reliability of the information presented. The slight delay in reporting further diminishes the freshness of the content. Given these factors, the overall confidence in the content’s veracity is medium, leading to a FAIL verdict.
