agricultural corn crop farm field at sunset

Mi’Kmaq Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Umaine Awarded Federal Grants for Forever Chemical Research

September 06, 2024 | Source: Maine Morning Star | by Emma Davis

More research into ways to reduce forever chemicals in the food supply will be conducted in Maine through millions of dollars in grant funding awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week.

Three of the ten institutions awarded grants will focus their work in Maine. The Mi’kmaq Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe and the University of Maine were each awarded roughly $1.6 million to embark on research into mitigation at various points throughout food production where per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, otherwise known as PFAS, can contaminate plants and livestock. PFAS have been linked to long-term adverse health outcomes, such as cancers and weakened immune systems

For the Mi’kmaq Nation’s project, which is being conducted with the University of Virginia, this will include finding ways to reduce contamination from farms irrigated with water that contains PFAS, which is a well-known reality for Aroostook County, the area of focus for the project.