EU-funded GREENLAND project uses trees for toxic land clean up

In Austria, researchers led by the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna are coordinating the EU-funded project GREENLAND that in part aims to use trees such as poplars and willow to clean up superfund sites. Not only do the trees’ roots suck up polluted water but bacteria can also be added to the trees roots to further remove other contaminants. By conjugating existing bacteria found in the trees roots with bacteria that eat up pollutants, the researchers are able to boost the effectiveness of the cleaner and cheaper decontamination process.