Multi-institutional workshop shapes solutions to chemical industry’s most complex challenges
WASHINGTON, October 16, 2024 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) today announced findings from a workshop to create a research roadmap that will lead to short- and long-term science-based solutions. announced several important results. To address new challenges posed by the discovery of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in agricultural soils and waters. PFAS are increasingly present in the environment, posing significant challenges to producers and the farming community, and highlighting the need for agricultural researchers to develop innovative and practical solutions. .
ARS, its Environmental Monitoring and Mitigation Center of Excellence, and the University of Maine recently collaborated on a three-day workshop that brought together more than 150 interagency researchers, state partners, university partners, and other subjects. We brought together experts to discuss and identify the problem. We deliver leading research and innovative solutions that address the greatest challenges PFAS pose to agriculture, agroecosystems, food systems, and rural communities.
With the detection of PFAS chemicals on farms, many in the agricultural industry are facing new challenges, and as a result, farmers’ continued ability to maintain healthy soil and water on their farms, as well as safe and reliable water. This poses new challenges to our continued ability to provide water that is available. Supplying our country and the world with food and fiber. Proposed long-term roadmap solutions to improve these conditions include finding new means of detecting when PFAS contamination is a problem, and how PFAS contamination moves through agricultural systems. This includes gaining a better understanding of chemicals and innovating new ways to disrupt their movement or remove chemicals before they become contaminated. cause harm.
Other topics of discussion at the workshop include data standardization and integration strategies, how to develop scientific solutions to urban biosolids management, and how to effectively remove existing PFAS chemicals from production environments. was included.
“The conference, which focuses on the gap between PFAS challenges and solutions, will empower ARS and its partners and sister institutions to address agricultural-centric concerns arising from the use of PFAS in our communities and everyday consumer products. “It gave us hope to tackle and solve the problem,” he said. Dr. David Knebel, ARS Senior Management Advisor; “The overarching impact of this workshop is to help the U.S. agricultural research community and stakeholders find creative and innovative ways to mitigate and remediate the rapidly growing PFAS challenge in U.S. agriculture and food systems.” will help you find it.”
PFAS are a type of man-made chemical that have been manufactured and used in various industries around the world, including in the United States, since the 1940s. This chemical is placed in the category of “permanent chemicals” because it accumulates in the bodies of animals and plants and does not break down naturally in animals, plants, or the environment. These chemicals in the agricultural environment can pose many challenges to food producers, requiring innovative scientific solutions from agricultural research, research and development, and strategic partnerships.
“At this time, our data indicates that PFAS is a non-agricultural environmental hazard,” said Acting Assistant Administrator Maren Eve. “However, producers need efficient and cost-effective ways to address the problem when contaminants are detected in agricultural soils or water bodies.”
Federal government and stakeholder workshop participants will develop documents that will communicate solutions to the agricultural research community, particularly in regions where PFAS have significant impacts on agriculture, and will turn those research solutions into impactful tools. as a realization and practice for producers and the farming community.
“The University of Maine is pleased to expand our partnership with USDA ARS to find solutions to this national environmental crisis. Our expertise, supported by the ingenuity and determination of our researchers and students, The collection of “University of Maine System Research and Innovation will accelerate advances in basic and applied science, resulting in new tools and strategies to protect food systems in Maine and beyond.” “We are thrilled to welcome the University of Maine to the University of Maine,” said Joanne Ferrini Mundy, Vice President and President of the University of Maine. “We will work together to expand each other’s research capacity and support funding activities and infrastructure, all of which are essential to reducing the spread of PFAS and other toxic compounds like them. We would like to thank U.S. Senator Susan Collins for securing funding for the Center and continued support for research that provides practical solutions for rural farmers and communities. ”
ARS continues to expand PFAS research to address impacts on U.S. agriculture. Future research will help the nation maintain a safe, abundant, and high-quality food supply supported by sustainable natural resources.
– USDA Agricultural Research Service
