#bioremediation

#bioremediation

On a field in northern Albania, farmers are working between rows of yellow mustard plants, bringing in their harvest: nickel. What's planted here is one of about 700 hyperaccumulating species plants that accumulate high amounts of metals from the ground, such as nickel, zinc, copper, even gold and rare earth elements. They evolved to store these metals in their shoots, leaves or sap. It's their little toxic trick, a defense against predators and pathogens. For the plants themselves, the metals are harmless.