ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit

The University of Arizona’s Plant–Soil–Environment team recently attended the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit in San Diego, CA (April 7–9, 2026). Over the past year, our team has been deeply engaged in advancing the ARPA-E PHYTOMINES exploratory topic, looking into plant-based pathways for critical mineral recovery and contributing to new approaches in sustainable resource supply chains. The summit provided a valuable opportunity to connect in person with project collaborators and investors, exchange ideas, and discuss emerging directions in this rapidly evolving field.

 

In addition, we showcased our ongoing work on screening herbarium and field-collected plant specimens to develop the first open-access database of metal-hyperaccumulating plants in the U.S. - an important step toward expanding foundational knowledge and supporting innovation in phytomining.

 

It was an energizing few days of discussions on energy innovation, biological systems, and the future of critical materials.