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- The Rock Dust Solution: Better Crops, Lower Greenhouse Gases
casualSTEM delivers brief and informative summaries of the latest science news every Saturday. Full of jokes, silly polls, and a cartoon!
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Enhanced Rocks
Sprinkling rock dust on crops boosts yields AND reduces greenhouse gases. Agricultural gains add to already understood climate benefits of enhanced rock weathering.
12-16% higher crop yields
Increases plant’s micro and macro nutrient content
Annually removes ~3-4 tonnes of CO2 per ~2.5 acres
Once scaled, enhanced rock weathering could offset combined aviation and shipping CO2 emissions. Reducing greenhouse gasses by ironically requiring plants to grow outside of greenhouses. We need a new name for indoor farming outdoors!
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If rock dust on crops can offset major CO2 emissions, maybe my rock collection can finally be put to use. Watch out, climate change, my pet rocks are coming for you!
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