Phytoremediation Using Underemployed Agricultural Assets

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Acknowledging the problems of drought and low farm prices, the United States Government has authorized more than $20 billion per year in farm aid to boost farm incomes, encourage conservation, and buy crop and livestock insurance. At the same time, millions of acres of the country are contaminated with heavy metals and organic pollutants that are expensive to remove using traditional techniques such as excavation and landfill. By bringing modern, low-cost agricultural techniques to bear on major environmental problems, it may be possible to increase farm employment and revenue generating opportunities, particularly in rural areas, while at the same time improving environmental quality for Americans nationwide. The ability of farmers to improve the environmental quality of farmland and nearby properties, using the same technology base developed for agriculture, should open a host of varied, widely-distributed commercial opportunities.