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April 29, 2025

Maine Ag. Dept. awards $3M for PFAS research

By Tina Fischer

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry has dedicated $3 million from the state PFAS Fund for research that could aid farmers in dealing with soil contamination from the substances known as forever chemicals.

PFAS present in municipal sludge used as an inexpensive fertilizer have affected an estimated 90 Maine farms. Sludge, or biosolids from wastewater treatment plants, was used by some growers until the practice was banned in Maine in 2022.

PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are highly resistant to decomposing, and have been found to be present in soil, water, plants, animals and humans once released into the environment. 

Exposure to PFAS has been found to potentially cause decreased vaccine response, increased cholesterol levels, reduced infant and fetal growth, increased risk of kidney and testicular cancers and pregnancy complications such as hypertension and pre-eclampsia.

Amanda Beal
COURTESY / Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry
Amanda Beal

“Maine has been a national leader in addressing the impacts of PFAS on our food supply, establishing a range of technical and financial assistance programs to help commercial farms continue operating successfully while protecting public health," said DACF Commissioner Amanda Beal. 

“These research grants will build on that work and deepen our understanding of how PFAS move through agricultural systems and identify better ways for farms to manage and minimize risks.”

The PFAS Fund received 22 grant applications for over $9 million in assistance. Seven projects were selected to fund research on detection in soil and other media, uptake by animals and plants, and remediation from soil. Full research project descriptions can be viewed here. 

The $60 million PFAS Fund was established by Gov. Janet Mills with bipartisan legislative support to provide affected farmers with financial assistance, purchase contaminated farmland from willing sellers, accelerate research and support health-related initiatives.

The technical and financial support provided by the DACF, has enabled the majority of PFAS-impacted farms to continue to farm safely.

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