The team identified more than 1,000 mining sites with potential for aromatic plant production, found 12 candidate plants for phytoremediation, including a new metal-tolerant species, and produced more than 8,000 seedlings in native plant nurseries. In lead-contaminated soils, 156 Larrea divaricata and 120 Helianthus petiolaris seedlings were successfully established at three pilot sites. In Argentina, more than 100 kg of lavandin and 30 kg of pink pepper were distilled, yielding about 2,500 ml of essential oil worth around USD 2,500. In Colombia, processing capacity exceeds one tonne of fresh biomass per day, and work is moving toward exporting value-added products. The project also held farmer workshops and produced 2 PhD theses, 3 undergraduate theses and 7 international scientific articles. “Our products carry not only quality, but all of our culture and the spirit of the Sierra Nevada,” says Solón Arias.

🎥 Video (in Spanish): Phytoremediation of mining soils
📄 Publications (in Spanish): FONTAGRO Tech (PDF) · Poster (PDF)
🔗 More information (in Spanish): Impact story · Project update