Cultivation of fiber crops for sustainable soil remediation and biobased raw material production for industrial uses

The contamination of agricultural soils with toxic metals is an escalating issue, posing hazards to both wildlife and human populations across vast land areas. The objective of the FORTE project is to address this issue by cultivating industrial hemp, flax and kenaf on contaminated mining and agricultural lands. This approach serves a dual purpose: (i) remediating the soil and (ii) generating biomass for industrial applications. The project aims to acquire practical knowledge regarding the cultivation of these crops in heavy metal and metalloid contaminated sites, thereby contributing to the development of phytoremediation technology using fiber crops in real field conditions. Additionally, it will foster the generation of innovative materials. An economic analysis, and environmental and social impact assessments will support the sustainability and the optimization of the value chain of produced bioproducts, namely particleboards and insulation panels, and will ensure the implementation of best practices and efficient operations throughout the life cycle of these evaluated products.