Mercury (Hg) is a highly toxic pollutant of global concern. This study focuses on managing Hg contamination in agricultural systems, emphasizing the dominant role of leaf uptake over root absorption in plant Hg concentrations, regardless of soil Hg levels. Previous research demonstrated that hemp grown on Hg-contaminated soils in Keerbergen, Flemish Brabant, showed negligible root-to-shoot transfer, with plant concentrations potentially falling below European safety thresholds for food products.

Future research will investigate Hg uptake in various crops across soils with differing pH and organic matter under field conditions and assess soil amendments like biochar and sulfur-rich materials to immobilize Hg and reduce plant uptake. Airborne Hg monitoring, enabled by advanced equipment, will further elucidate the relationship between soil amendments, Hg volatilization, and plant concentrations, providing scalable solutions for mitigating contamination risks in agriculture.