Hemp to combat PFAS in the port of Ghent

A small 100 m² greenhouse in the port of Ghent is now home to an unusual crop: hemp grown to extract PFAS of highly contaminated soil. Presented as a European first, which is not quite true, This pilot project will test whether phytoremediation can offer a scalable alternative to conventional soil remediation methods.

The PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkylated substances), often referred to as «eternal chemicals», are persistent compounds linked to diseases such as cancer, obesity and endometriosis. According to a recent report prepared for the European Commission, 100% of the Belgian population live in high-risk PFAS areas, including 20% in very high-risk areas. The estimated cost of clean-up and associated health consequences could reach at least 330 billion euros, even in the most optimistic scenario.

A controlled experiment of phytoremediation

Traditional remediation techniques generally involve excavating and washing contaminated soils. These approaches only partially eliminate the pollution and generate large volumes of unusable waste destined for landfill. The consortium behind the Ghent pilot project aims to overcome this «end-of-pipe» logic.

Instead, the project is based on the phytoremediation, which uses plants and micro-organisms to naturally eliminate pollutants. In a fully enclosed, air-conditioned greenhouse, 100 m³ of PFAS-contaminated soil is treated ex situ. The soil is excavated, transferred to the greenhouse and cultivated with industrial hemp combined with specific additives.

These additives are designed to bind or mobilize PFAS, stimulate microbial life and improve soil structure. Hemp, a fast-growing, deep-rooted, non-psychoactive crop, produces biomass while absorbing PFAS from the soil. Only the harvested biomass, containing accumulated pollutants, leaves the closed system for safe disposal.

The greenhouse itself is designed to offer great precision. Irrigation, temperature and lighting are strictly regulated, while an app continuously measures soil moisture and CO₂ levels. Rainwater is collected and reused, preventing any contaminated runoff.

In order to refine the methodology, the greenhouse is divided into two independent but identical compartments. Each section tests different treatment conditions, enabling direct comparison and identification of the most effective sanitation strategy.

Public authorities keep a close eye

Flemish Minister Jo Brouns attended the project presentation and symbolically sowed the first seeds. hemp seeds. «This is a potential solution for the remediation of soils containing PFAS. We know that they are ubiquitous in Flemish soils today, and we are looking for new ways to remediate these soils,» he said.

For the industrial partners, the ambition is clear. «PFAS are one of the biggest challenges in soil remediation today, both in Belgium and abroad. By joining forces with C-ground and C-biotech, we are exploring a sustainable, scalable alternative that offers promising prospects for future projects», said Maarten Taelemans, Managing Director of the OVMB.

Herman Backaert, Head of Innovation at C-ground, emphasized the advantages of a closed system, highlighting its ability to test PFAS remediation «in a controlled, safe and accelerated way, with the ultimate goal of complete soil reuse». Ingmar Nopens, Managing Director of C-biotech, added that no single technique can treat all cases of PFAS contamination, arguing that ex situ approaches are indispensable when excavation is unavoidable.

Industrial hemp beyond traditional uses

For C-biotech, a member of the Cordeel Group, the project also illustrates the industrial hemp's broader environmental potential. Already used in bio-sourced building materials, this plant is the subject of a growing number of studies due to its ability to absorb heavy metals and other contaminants. Its application to PFAS remediation remains experimental, but the Ghent greenhouse provides a closely monitored environment for evaluating its effectiveness and limits.

If successful, the partners intend to extend the process to larger volumes of contaminated soil. At a time when PFAS pollution redefining environmental policy debates across Europe, the Ghent pilot project positions hemp as a technical tool in a high-risk industrial challenge: restoring soils without simply moving contamination from one site to another.

The transition of this model from pilot scale to large-scale deployment will depend on measurable extraction rates, economic viability and regulatory acceptance. For the time being, the Ghent greenhouse serves as a testing ground for future action against one of Europe's most persistent pollutants.