The political strategies fostering research and technological progress worldwide rest upon three pillars: the sustainable use of resources, the decontamination of polluted soils and waters and the production of safe agricultural products. To successfully address such environmental and societal challenges, it is essential to encourage joint initiatives among international experts. In this proposal, groups from the Italian CNR and the Polish University of Lodz cooperate to investigate the interaction between plants and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): a group of emerging pollutants recognized by the EU to be of great concern for human and ecosystem health. Despite of that concern, little data about PFAS uptake by plants and possible transfer to human diet is reported in literature. Drawing on the considerable and specific expertise of the two research groups, the proposal aims to elucidate the mechanisms of PFAS uptake, accumulation and toxicity in plants of the riparian-aquatic ecosystem; the findings will be used to evaluate their impact on natural ecosystems and to assess the risk of transfer to the human diet via food plants. It will also evaluate the bioremediation potential of plants for environmental matrices such as soil and water, as natural capital asset. The restoration of PFAS-contaminated sites is key to solving the societal challenges represented by environmental rehabilitation, health and food safety; and this is planned in cooperation with private companies. Through an intense program of joint meetings, visits and participation to conferences, the two groups will plan experimental activity and share the obtained results; young scientists and Ph.D. students will be involved in all steps to acquire specific skills and competences. The project outcomes will be effectively disseminated by targeting stakeholders (companies, local administrations) and specific groups of interest through social media and conference organization and participation.