THE PROJECT REMOVAS

Rice is the main staple food source for billions of people worldwide, and As tends to accumulate in higher concentrations in this grain crop, more than in other grain crops, increasing the human health risk. Arsenic is one of the main toxic element found in the environment, as a result of natural geogenic and anthropic sources. Because its potential risk to the ecosystem and to human health the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) classifies inorganic As as a group A carcinogen and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) ranked As as number one in its 2019 Substance Priority List. High As concentrations in rice grain is a consequence of As bioavailability in soil and speciation under conditions in which rice is cultivated and own intrinsic ecophysiological behaviour of this species. This can be a result from soil reducing conditions by flooding as it from the use of irrigation waters with high As levels. Therefore, it is a major research goal to issue sustainable production strategies that create conditions for a decrease uptake of As in paddy fields and consequently decrease As accumulation in the rice grain. The growth of algae in rice fields has been considered a natural fertilization process, as decomposition of algae adds nitrogen and other nutrients to the paddy soil. Moreover, microalgae produce oxygen during its phototrophic growth, which could create conditions that allows shifts in the paddy water redox potential and pH, thus promoting oxidation of As(III) to As(V) and further methylation, decreasing the bioavailability of As for uptake. The purpose of this project is to explore the possibility of integrating microalgae cultures into the rice paddy fields farming system towards decreasing the bioavailability of As for uptake, without compromising rice yields and the agroecosystem. Moreover, the project will also explore the use of paddy fields microalgae as potential secondary sources of income for rice producers (e.g. production of bioenergy) and creating new differentiated products to the rice miller’s portfolio. The holistic value chain approach of this proposal, is in line with the new European Green Deal policy framework linked with the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, to promote a resource-efficient and competitive economy while guarantying the health and well-being of citizens from environment-related risks and impacts, covering the “farm to fork” food value chain.