Rare earth mines are poisoning Mekong tributaries threatening Southeast Asia food supply and livelihoods

Unregulated runoff is contaminating the river that feeds millions

Unregulated rare earth mining in Myanmar and Laos is releasing toxic runoff into the Mekong River and its tributaries, threatening livelihoods across Southeast Asia. With regional clean-up efforts proving limited, the damage is growing alongside a mining boom fueled by rising global demand for critical minerals—casting a shadow over the food exports many countries rely on.