Advancing phytomining: Harnessing plant potential for sustainable rare earth element extraction

[Display omitted] •There is a global need to find a new way to obtain REEs and meet its global demand.•Phytomining is a valid method to remediate polluted soil and extract REEs.•Affecting parameters and plant mechanisms underlying REEs uptake were discussed.•It was found that biofuels can be produced from biomass obtained from agromining.•The LCA studies on phytomining suggest their environmental sustainability. Rare earth elements (REEs) are pivotal for advanced technologies, driving a surge in global demand. Import dependency on clean energy minerals raises concerns about supply chain vulnerabilities and geopolitical risks. Conventional REEs productionis resource-intensive and environmentally harmful, necessitating a sustainable supply approach. Phytomining (agromining) utilizes plants for eco-friendly REE extraction, contributing to the circular economy and exploiting untapped metal resources in enriched soils. Critical parameters like soil pH, Casparian strip, and REE valence influence soil and plant uptake bioavailability. Hyperaccumulator species efficiently accumulate REEs, serving as energy resources. Despite a lack of a comprehensive database, phytomining exhibits lower environmental impacts due to minimal chemical usage and CO2 absorption. This review proposes phytomining as a system for REEs extraction, remediating contaminated areas, and rehabilitating abandoned mines. The phytomining of REEs offers a promising avenue for sustainable REEs extraction but requires technological advancements to realize its full potential.