AI Speeds Search for Plants to Mine Critical Minerals

The United States has long depended on foreign sources for the critical minerals that power its technology industry, from the cobalt and lithium in smartphones to the rare earth elements used in semiconductors. A growing scientific effort now seeks to reduce that dependence by turning to a process called phytomining, in which engineered plants and their symbiotic microbes are used to extract essential metals directly from the soil.

Researchers are developing crop varieties that can accumulate high concentrations of metals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, while microbial partners enhance nutrient uptake and metal solubilization. Field trials in the American Southwest have shown that these plants can concentrate several times more of the target elements than conventional mining yields, and the harvested biomass can be processed to recover the minerals with lower energy inputs than traditional extraction. The approach also offers a potentially more environmentally friendly alternative, as it avoids the large-scale land disturbance and toxic waste associated with conventional mining.

If the technology proves scalable, phytomining could provide a domestic, resource‑efficient supply of critical minerals, reducing the United States’ reliance on overseas sources and bolstering the resilience of its technology supply chain. The next steps for scientists will involve optimizing plant genetics, refining microbial consortia, and developing industrial processing methods to turn the harvested biomass into market‑ready materials.