Caitlin Byrt and Samantha McGaughey: The  Green  Tech  Revolution  Growing  Beneath  Our  Feet

What if the key to sustainable metals, minerals, and nutrient recovery has been growing in front of us all along?

In this episode of Responsible Raw Materials, Professor Caitlin Byrt and Dr Samantha McGaughey from the Australian National University reveal how plant biology is inspiring breakthrough technologies that can extract critical resources from industrial and urban waste.

From salt‑tolerant wheat now grown in 11 countries to plant‑inspired separation systems for metals and nutrients, this conversation shows how nature’s own engineering could reshape the future of energy, agriculture, and responsible resource supply.  

They also discuss the challenges of deep‑tech commercialisation, the importance of cross‑disciplinary collaboration, and why the next wave of innovation will come from the spaces between scientific fields. 

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