Farming with crops and rocks to address global climate, food and soil security | Nature Plants

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Greg Rau

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Feb 19, 2018, 1:02:30 PM2/19/18
to Carbon Dioxide Removal

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-018-0108-y

“The magnitude of future climate change could be moderated by immediately reducing the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere as a result of energy generation and by adopting strategies that actively remove CO2 from it. Biogeochemical improvement of soils by adding crushed, fast-reacting silicate rocks to croplands is one such CO2-removal strategy. This approach has the potential to improve crop production, increase protection from pests and diseases, and restore soil fertility and structure. Managed croplands worldwide are already equipped for frequent rock dust additions to soils, making rapid adoption at scale feasible, and the potential benefits could generate financial incentives for widespread adoption in the agricultural sector. However, there are still obstacles to be surmounted. Audited field-scale assessments of the efficacy of CO2 capture are urgently required together with detailed environmental monitoring. A cost-effective way to meet the rock requirements for CO2 removal must be found, possibly involving the recycling of silicate waste materials. Finally, issues of public perception, trust and acceptance must also be addressed.”


Leon Di Marco

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Feb 19, 2018, 5:28:09 PM2/19/18
to Carbon Dioxide Removal
What recommendations does it make about  the practicable scale of CDR using crushed rock in agri?
This is a bit obscure-  presumably it means that the method is not currently viable-
A cost-effective way to meet the rock requirements for CO2 removal must be found, possibly involving the recycling of silicate waste materials. Finally, issues of public perception, trust and acceptance must also be addressed.” 

LDM

John Nissen

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Feb 19, 2018, 5:37:25 PM2/19/18
to Greg Rau, Carbon Dioxide Removal, Ron Larson
Hi Greg,

I just saw James Hansen has just published a paper on rock crushing as well!  I've not had time to read it.

http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/2018/20180219_RockDustInFarming_NewsRelease.pdf


Perhaps we need to combine rock crushing with biochar which may be obtained in the necessary large quantities by pyrolysis of marine biomass, e.g. from kelp farms.  Ron, has the biochar community considered obtaining biomass from the sea and/or combining biochar with crushed rock?

Cheers, John


On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 6:02 PM, Greg Rau <gh...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-018-0108-y

“The magnitude of future climate change could be moderated by immediately reducing the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere as a result of energy generation and by adopting strategies that actively remove CO2 from it. Biogeochemical improvement of soils by adding crushed, fast-reacting silicate rocks to croplands is one such CO2-removal strategy. This approach has the potential to improve crop production, increase protection from pests and diseases, and restore soil fertility and structure. Managed croplands worldwide are already equipped for frequent rock dust additions to soils, making rapid adoption at scale feasible, and the potential benefits could generate financial incentives for widespread adoption in the agricultural sector. However, there are still obstacles to be surmounted. Audited field-scale assessments of the efficacy of CO2 capture are urgently required together with detailed environmental monitoring. A cost-effective way to meet the rock requirements for CO2 removal must be found, possibly involving the recycling of silicate waste materials. Finally, issues of public perception, trust and acceptance must also be addressed.”


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Ronal W. Larson

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Feb 19, 2018, 5:56:48 PM2/19/18
to John Nissen, Carbon Dioxide Removal, Greg Rau, David Yarrow, Thomas Goreau
John,  cc Greg and list,  adding 2 new ccs

See inserts below.


On Feb 19, 2018, at 3:37 PM, John Nissen <johnnis...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Greg,

I just saw James Hansen has just published a paper on rock crushing as well!  I've not had time to read it.

http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/2018/20180219_RockDustInFarming_NewsRelease.pdf

[RWL:   I haven't found a free copy yet.  Hope someone can send.


Perhaps we need to combine rock crushing with biochar which may be obtained in the necessary large quantities by pyrolysis of marine biomass, e.g. from kelp farms.
Ron, has the biochar community considered obtaining biomass from the sea and/or combining biochar with crushed rock? farms.  

[RWL:  There are two (at least) active in combined rock dust and biochar (they being cc’d):  David Yarrow and Tom Goreau.  Both have reported success.
Michael Hayes has been very strong on this list re biochar from ocean biomass.  I am unaware anyone doing ocean-based biochar commercially - but it seems likely that is happening.

Ron


Cheers, John


On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 6:02 PM, Greg Rau <gh...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-018-0108-y

“The magnitude of future climate change could be moderated by immediately reducing the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere as a result of energy generation and by adopting strategies that actively remove CO2 from it. Biogeochemical improvement of soils by adding crushed, fast-reacting silicate rocks to croplands is one such CO2-removal strategy. This approach has the potential to improve crop production, increase protection from pests and diseases, and restore soil fertility and structure. Managed croplands worldwide are already equipped for frequent rock dust additions to soils, making rapid adoption at scale feasible, and the potential benefits could generate financial incentives for widespread adoption in the agricultural sector. However, there are still obstacles to be surmounted. Audited field-scale assessments of the efficacy of CO2 capture are urgently required together with detailed environmental monitoring. A cost-effective way to meet the rock requirements for CO2 removal must be found, possibly involving the recycling of silicate waste materials. Finally, issues of public perception, trust and acceptance must also be addressed.”


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David Yarrow

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Feb 19, 2018, 7:09:12 PM2/19/18
to Ronal W. Larson, John Nissen, Carbon Dioxide Removal, Greg Rau, Thomas Goreau
GLAD TO SEE NATURE FEATURES A FEW SENTENCES ABOUT SOIL REGENERATION WITH CARBON, MINERALS & MICROBES.
i hope the rest of the article paints more of this complex picture.
one of my focuses is on magma rocks.

these extra-dense igneous bedrocks consist of primary crystalline elements in simple, unreacted states.
these dense, freshly-fractured rocks have never been exposed to air, water & weathering.
many contain reactive elements that react with CO2 to form carbonates.
first, first fixes carbon.
second, this changes soil chemistry.
third, this buffers pH to stabilize +/- charge balances
then these rocks deliver other essential nutrients 
-- especially trace elements, most uniquely, rare earth elements.

this carbon-fixing potential of basalt & other magma rocks got significant scientific attention recently.
the solution has been made to drill deep holes into basalt, then pump CO2 in the holes.
somewhere i have 2 or 3 science reports on this research.
might even have a research paper from scandanavia.
a good idea, but not especially bright, effective or efficient.

currently in the US  hundreds of quarries are blasting & crushing magma into aggregate.
much of it ends up in concrete, which is carbon positive CO2 emitter.
most quarries have a byproduct of mineral fines that pass through the last set of screens
-- usually 200 mesh, above that is fine sand.
this dust, if blended with biochar, and added to soil, 
will dramatically boost microbe activity, nutrient mobility, plant growth & carbon fixation.
and sharply cut the NPK carbon-positive fertilizers a farmer needs to get a crop.

if this is done even more intelligently, farmers can transition away from chemical fertilizers 
-- and all the ecological catastrophes these chemicals are creating.

i've been doing, talking & writing this for nigh on 3 decades.
still, most folks 1) don't care, 2) don't believe it/me, 3) dispute the facts, 4) insist on scientific research.
even the local biochar producer down the road is not paying attention, 
or forming a plan to get into the action.

meanwhile, within the hour, a truck will arrive at ar out farm 
with the last 2 of over 14 tons of ultrafine glacial gravel dust.
now i gotta be sure as much as possible gets in farm soils before this spring.

for a green & peaceful planet,
david yarrow

On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 3:02 PM, Ronal W. Larson <rongre...@comcast.net> wrote:
David:

Apologies.  I sent this to the wrong address.

Ron

Begin forwarded message:

From: Ronal W. Larson <rongre...@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [CDR] Farming with crops and rocks to address global climate, food and soil security | Nature Plants
Date: February 19, 2018 at 3:56:44 PM MST
To: John Nissen <johnnis...@gmail.com>, Carbon Dioxide Removal <CarbonDioxideRemoval@googlegroups.com>, Greg Rau <ra...@llnl.gov>
Cc: David Yarrow <dya...@nycap.rr.com>, Thomas Goreau <gor...@bestweb.net>

John,  cc Greg and list,  adding 2 new ccs

See inserts below.


On Feb 19, 2018, at 3:37 PM, John Nissen <johnnis...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Greg,

I just saw James Hansen has just published a paper on rock crushing as well!  I've not had time to read it.

http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/2018/20180219_RockDustInFarming_NewsRelease.pdf

[RWL:   I haven't found a free copy yet.  Hope someone can send.


Perhaps we need to combine rock crushing with biochar which may be obtained in the necessary large quantities by pyrolysis of marine biomass, e.g. from kelp farms.
Ron, has the biochar community considered obtaining biomass from the sea and/or combining biochar with crushed rock? farms.  

[RWL:  There are two (at least) active in combined rock dust and biochar (they being cc’d):  David Yarrow and Tom Goreau.  Both have reported success.
Michael Hayes has been very strong on this list re biochar from ocean biomass.  I am unaware anyone doing ocean-based biochar commercially - but it seems likely that is happening.

Ron


Cheers, John


On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 6:02 PM, Greg Rau <gh...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-018-0108-y

“The magnitude of future climate change could be moderated by immediately reducing the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere as a result of energy generation and by adopting strategies that actively remove CO2 from it. Biogeochemical improvement of soils by adding crushed, fast-reacting silicate rocks to croplands is one such CO2-removal strategy. This approach has the potential to improve crop production, increase protection from pests and diseases, and restore soil fertility and structure. Managed croplands worldwide are already equipped for frequent rock dust additions to soils, making rapid adoption at scale feasible, and the potential benefits could generate financial incentives for widespread adoption in the agricultural sector. However, there are still obstacles to be surmounted. Audited field-scale assessments of the efficacy of CO2 capture are urgently required together with detailed environmental monitoring. A cost-effective way to meet the rock requirements for CO2 removal must be found, possibly involving the recycling of silicate waste materials. Finally, issues of public perception, trust and acceptance must also be addressed.”

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Leon Di Marco

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Feb 19, 2018, 8:35:27 PM2/19/18
to Carbon Dioxide Removal
scale, costs etc-

https://www.carbonbrief.org/guest-post-how-enhanced-weathering-could-slow-climate-change-and-boost-crop-yields

GUEST POSTS 
19 February 2018  16:00

Guest post: How ‘enhanced weathering’ could slow climate change and boost crop yields


Prof David Beerling, director of the Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation, and Prof Stephen Long from the Department of Crop Sciences and Plant Biology at theUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.

Achieving the Paris Agreement goals of keeping global warming to “well below” 2C, or to 1.5C, above pre-industrial levels will require rapid decarbonisation of human society.

But national commitments to rein in greenhouse gas emissions are currently insufficient to meet these agreed limits. It is increasingly likely that “negative emissions”, or “carbon dioxide removal”, technologies will be needed to take up the slack.

These techniques involve extracting CO2 from the atmosphere and storing it indefinitely. Scientists have proposed a range of different approaches and we now need realistic assessment of these strategies, what they might be able to deliver, and what the challenges are.

In a new paper for Nature Plants, we tackle an under-discussed technique of CO2 removal called “enhanced rock weathering”. Our research highlights the potential wider benefits for crop yields and soil health, and sets out a research agenda for the next steps.

What is enhanced weathering?

As you might remember from geography classes at school, chemical weathering is a natural process that continuously erodes away rocks in our landscapes and sequesters atmospheric CO2 over millions of years.

The process begins with rain, which is usually slightly acidic having absorbed CO2 from the atmosphere on its journey to the ground. The acidic rain reacts with the rocks and soils it lands on, gradually breaking them down into minute rock grains and forming bicarbonate in the process. Eventually, this bicarbonate washes into the oceans, where the carbon is stored in dissolve form for hundreds of thousands of years or locked up on the sea floor.

Enhanced weathering scales up this process. It involves pulverising silicate rocks such as basalt – left over from ancient volcanic eruptions – to bypass the slow weathering action. The resulting powder, with a high reactive surface area, is then spread on large areas of agricultural land where plant roots and microbes in the soil speed up the chemical reactions.

Graphic on 'Advanced weathering'

As natural rock weathering absorbs around 3% of global fossil fuel emissions, enhanced weathering can provide a boost to remove even more CO2 from our atmosphere.

But the potential benefits do not end there. As enhanced weathering makes water more alkaline, it can help counteract ocean acidification.

And adding minerals to soils can boost nutrient levels, improving crop yields and helping restore degraded agricultural soils.

Food demand

The need to cut CO2 emissions is unfolding alongside an unprecedented increase in food demand – linked to dietary changes and a growing population that may surpass 11 billion by 2100 (pdf). At the same time, farming itself a growing contributor to climate change.

Critically, enhanced rock weathering works together with existing managed croplands.  Unlike other negative emissions techniques under consideration, it doesn’t compete for land used to grow food or increase the demand for freshwater.

While enhanced weathering can be applied to any soils, arable land is the most obvious candidate as it is worked and planted throughout the year. It covers some 12m square kilometres – 11% of the global land area.

In fact, arable farms already apply crushed rock in the form of limestone to reverse acidification of soils caused by farming practices, such as the use of fertilisers. And there is a long history of small-scale farming using silicate rocks to improve crop yields in highly-weathered soils in Africa, Brazil and Malaysia.

Swapping silicate for limestone, and increasing the application rate, would do the same job to help tackle acidification, but help capture CO2 from the atmosphere at the same time.

Managed cropland, therefore, has the logistical infrastructure, such as road networks, and the machinery needed to undertake this approach at scale. These considerations could make enhanced weathering potentially straightforward to adopt.

You can see this in action in the video below from the Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation.

Using silicate rocks as a resource in this way could also have a number of important wider benefits. These include supplying silica back into soils to improve crop health and protection from pests and diseases, and supplying nutrients to increase yields.

If realised, these benefits would reduce the usage of agricultural fertilisers and pesticides, lowering the cost of food production, increasing the profitability of farms and reducing the barriers to take up enhanced weathering for the agricultural sector.

Estimates and challenges

So, in theory, there are a lot of potential upsides for using enhanced weathering. However, like many negative emissions technologies, implementation is still in its very early stages. It needs further research, development and demonstration – not just across a range of crops and soil types, but also different climates and spatial scales.

There have been some successful field tests of using enhanced weathering – though for purposes other than capturing CO2.

For example, in a 12-year study conducted in a New Hampshire forest, scientists measured the effect of spreading silicate powder as a method of accelerating recovery from acid rain. The results confirmed some of the main impacts of enhanced weathering – a rapid increase in dissolved silicate and calcium making it into streams, and alleviation of acidification in the ecosystem.

Similarly, in Mauritius, sugarcane trials as far back as 1961 added crushed basalt to soils and increased yields by 30% over five successive harvests.

There are other challenges too. The process of mining, grinding and spreading rocks on a large-scale would likely have negative environmental and ecological impacts, and would therefore require careful management. Depending on the size of the grains of powder the rocks are pulverized down to, the energy demand could account for 10-30% of the amount of CO2 sequestered. Using renewable energy sources would minimise this.

Costs, too, need to be considered. Current cost estimates are uncertain and vary widely. The most detailed analysis to date puts operational costs at $52-480 per tonne of CO2 sequestered – though these estimates are poorly constrained and improvements in crop yields and lower fertiliser needs will offset some of these costs. This compares with a$39-100 per tonne of CO2 for another, more talked-about negative emissions technology, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).

Credit: Dr Ilsa Kantola, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana

But the potential is significant. For example, applying 50 tonnes of basalt powder per hectare per year to 70m hectares of the corn belt of North America might sequester as much as 1.1bn tonnes of CO2 in the long run – equivalent to 13% of the global annual emissions from agriculture.

Countries with considerable productive farmland have the largest potential to sequester CO2 through enhanced weathering. These include the US, China, India and Russia, which all grow crops on a massive scale and make up the highest emitters of CO2.

Scaling estimates up to a global level is tricky, but – for example – adding 10-30 tonnes of silicate per hectare per year to two-thirds of the world’s most productive cropland could take 0.5-4bn tonnes of CO2 out of the atmosphere per year by 2100. But current estimates are highly uncertain and require more research.

Putting theory into practise

Human societies have long known that volcanic plains are fertile; ideal places for growing crops without adverse human health effects but, of course, with little consideration for how adding additional rocks to soils might capture carbon.

We now need to take the theory and laboratory tests out into real crop fields to see how enhanced weathering fits – practically and economically – in the wider portfolio of options for removing CO2 from the atmosphere.

However, there is still a long way to go and research in this area remains in its infancy.  Improved assessments are required to understand how much CO2 the approach would capture, how much rock is required, how much energy is required to crush and distribute the rock, and to better understand the long-term effects on soils and water courses.

We need to undertake carefully monitored assessments on arable land. For example, can we demonstrate the expected benefits to crops amidst the seasonal and annual variations in the weather?

And finally, we need to better understand the public perception of enhanced rock weathering as a strategy for carbon capture, communicate the process, benefits and risks, and understand any public concerns about what this means for our landscapes and farmlands.

 

Beerling, D. J. et al. (2018) Farming with crops and rocks to address global climate, food and soil security, Nature Plants, doi:10.1038/s41477-018-0108-y




On Monday, February 19, 2018 at 6:02:30 PM UTC, Greg Rau wrote:

Ronal W. Larson

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Feb 19, 2018, 11:16:28 PM2/19/18
to Carbon Dioxide Removal, John Nissen, Greg Rau, Thomas Goreau, David Yarrow
List et al

1.  Thanks to David for his very positive report below.    

David:   Could you add a few words on the economics?   What cost for your 14 tons?  What size particle were you purchasing?  What increase in production is required to break even? The paper talks of annual applications (tons/hectare-year) - larger than we read about for a one-time application of biochar;  do you expect that also?

2.  I was fortunate to receive a copy (that person being bcc’d - with thanks) - and have spent the last several hours reading the article.  We should note that Greg Rau, Administrator for this list, was a co-author.  

Some thoughts - only based on comparisons with biochar.  I know very little about rock dust.

a.  The rockdust technology suffers from being relatively unknown.  This was exemplified in the only cite  (non-fee - next to last in a commendable list of 111) that I found of a social science nature in http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/13/4/20170024.  Title:   Perceptions of enhanced weathering as a biological negative emissions option.
     This says (in part, because it references biochar [in only this one place]):   
"However, as compared to CDR by making biochar charcoal from vegetation to lock in CO2(which was viewed very positively by their respondents), and to SRM by placing large mirrors in orbit around the earth to block or reflect sunlight (which was viewed very negatively), enhanced weathering was seen as a relatively indistinct climate engineering approach without strong associations either way. To date, however, there has been no other detailed research into public attitudes towards enhanced weathering in the UK or elsewhere.”
I know from personal experience that supporters of rockdust will be amazed at how hard it is to get their technology to be well known.  An article like this one is a great start.  Biochar is still not well known - I guess rockdust to be about where biochar was a decade ago.  Public perception will determine a lot.

b.   Biochar has surprised me in having so many (50 around the world) local support chapters.  Rockdust supporters would be well advised to emulate that.  International conferences are a must.  

c.   Biochar has benefitted hugely from the story of Terra Preta.  Is there any historical analog for rockdust?

d.  Biochar is moving fast in large part because production and testing can be done by almost anyone at very low cost.  Is there a way to produce rockdust in remote locations?

e.  The article said this on costs, comparing to BECCS:  “Current cost estimates are uncertain and vary widely, and bet- ter understanding the economics involved is a priority. The most detailed analysis for operational costs drawn up for using a basic rock, such as basalt, gives values of US$52–480 tCO2–1, with grind- ing and transport the dominant components30. This cost range falls below that estimated for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) of US$39–100 tCO2–1 (US$140–360 tC–1)22.  “
As indicated in my economic questions to David Yarrow - this comparison of BECCS and rockdust costs is unfair,  as BECCS has no out-year financial benefits (which are not sufficiently mentioned elsewhere in the article).  Comparing these two CDR approaches on only CDR terms misses a main feature of rockdust application. 
 The same is true for biochar - which is growing essentially independent of CDR.  Negative, not positive, costs for biochar are regularly reported in the biochar literature - but I know of only one biochar paper that reported both negative and positive costs.  But the average (which was positive) was all that was a reported in comparing with other CDR approaches.   It is the potential for negative costs (increased profits) that is driving biochar progress.  (And hindering BECCS.)
Rockdust and biochar have much in common - and this article fails to point out those similarities.

Ron


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David Yarrow

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Feb 20, 2018, 12:38:24 AM2/20/18
to Carbon Dioxide Removal, John Nissen, Greg Rau, Thomas Goreau, Ron Larson, Sev Clarke, David Yarrow
On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 4:44 PM, Sev Clarke <sevc...@me.com> wrote:
Kevin,
This idea from David Yarrow to extract and use rock dust already produced by crushing operations seems much more of an economic and ecological goer than crushing new basaltic/silicate rock just for the purpose. I also like his idea of blending it with biochar, but would add manure to prevent/minimise both the former materials from blowing or being taken away by surface runoff, before spreading the mixture (preferably in aqueous form) over fields or ripping it into deeper soil for forestry and tree crop purposes. I am much less enthused with generating biochar from seaweed, as seaweed has many higher-value uses. There is enough low-grade terrestrial biomass, in the form of dirty bark, twigs and weed species, to generate large quantities of biochar using the energy-efficient and relatively non-polluting WHC process.
Sev 
William S. Clarke    BA, BSc, (Melb) MBA (Stanford)
T: +613 5426 1330                 M: 0431 488 506
Skype: willow7777777
P: PO Box 16, Mt Macedon, VIC 3441, Australia
Managing Director, Winwick Business Solutions Pty Ltd.

the name of the game is converting wastes into fertility.
that's the most broken part of the food circle.

blending manure & biochar is smart.
at one end, it minimizes odors.
at the other end, it inoculates with microbes, 
tho not necessarily the one you want in healthy soil, 
which is why "compost" was invented.
at any rate, manure is bacteria-based for digestion.
soil, at the least, needs a lot more fungi.

similarly, i agree there are better uses for seaweed that burnt into dense char.
preferred use for precious seaweed is as a powder to blend with the finished char, 
as a treat for microbes to move right in & start families.
not a lot of seaweed powder required: maybe at the 1 to 3% level, tops.

and then, if you wanna grow fungi & hyphae fast, 
add 1% fish meal + shrimp mael + crab meal.
finely ground to matching particle size, of course, for quick-draw fast results.
more full spectrum sea minerals packaged in amino acids & sugars, 
perfect to build microbial bodies like mycelium.
and yes, Nitrogen.
"Nitrogen is not a Nutrient, it's a Cycle"

~david

Begin forwarded message:
From: David Yarrow <dyar...@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [CDR] Farming with crops and rocks to address global climate, food and soil security | Nature Plants
Date: 20 February 2018 at 11:09:09 am AEDT
To: "Ronal W. Larson" <rongre...@comcast.net>, John Nissen <johnnis...@gmail.com>, Carbon Dioxide Removal <CarbonDioxideRemoval@googlegroups.com>, Greg Rau <ra...@llnl.gov>, Thomas Goreau <gor...@bestweb.net>

Begin forwarded message:

From: Ronal W. Larson <rongre...@comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [CDR] Farming with crops and rocks to address global climate, food and soil security | Nature Plants
Date: February 19, 2018 at 3:56:44 PM MST
To: John Nissen <johnnis...@gmail.com>, Carbon Dioxide Removal <CarbonDioxideRemoval@googlegroups.com>, Greg Rau <ra...@llnl.gov>
Cc: David Yarrow <dya...@nycap.rr.com>, Thomas Goreau <gor...@bestweb.net>

John,  cc Greg and list,  adding 2 new ccs

See inserts below.


On Feb 19, 2018, at 3:37 PM, John Nissen <johnnis...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Greg,

I just saw James Hansen has just published a paper on rock crushing as well!  I've not had time to read it.

http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/2018/20180219_RockDustInFarming_NewsRelease.pdf

[RWL:   I haven't found a free copy yet.  Hope someone can send.


Perhaps we need to combine rock crushing with biochar which may be obtained in the necessary large quantities by pyrolysis of marine biomass, e.g. from kelp farms.
Ron, has the biochar community considered obtaining biomass from the sea and/or combining biochar with crushed rock? farms.  

[RWL:  There are two (at least) active in combined rock dust and biochar (they being cc’d):  David Yarrow and Tom Goreau.  Both have reported success.
Michael Hayes has been very strong on this list re biochar from ocean biomass.  I am unaware anyone doing ocean-based biochar commercially - but it seems likely that is happening.

Ron
Cheers, John


On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 6:02 PM, Greg Rau <gh...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-018-0108-y

“The magnitude of future climate change could be moderated by immediately reducing the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere as a result of energy generation and by adopting strategies that actively remove CO2 from it. Biogeochemical improvement of soils by adding crushed, fast-reacting silicate rocks to croplands is one such CO2-removal strategy. This approach has the potential to improve crop production, increase protection from pests and diseases, and restore soil fertility and structure. Managed croplands worldwide are already equipped for frequent rock dust additions to soils, making rapid adoption at scale feasible, and the potential benefits could generate financial incentives for widespread adoption in the agricultural sector. However, there are still obstacles to be surmounted. Audited field-scale assessments of the efficacy of CO2 capture are urgently required together with detailed environmental monitoring. A cost-effective way to meet the rock requirements for CO2 removal must be found, possibly involving the recycling of silicate waste materials. Finally, issues of public perception, trust and acceptance must also be addressed.”

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David J Beerling

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Feb 20, 2018, 1:40:48 AM2/20/18
to Greg Rau, Carbon Dioxide Removal

Congratulations on publishing "Farming with crops and rocks to address global climate, food and soil security" in Nature Plants. As part of the Springer Nature Content Sharing Initiative, you can now publicly share full-text access to a view-only version of your paper by using the following SharedIt link:

http://rdcu.be/HlCp





On 19 February 2018 at 18:02, Greg Rau <gh...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-018-0108-y

“The magnitude of future climate change could be moderated by immediately reducing the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere as a result of energy generation and by adopting strategies that actively remove CO2 from it. Biogeochemical improvement of soils by adding crushed, fast-reacting silicate rocks to croplands is one such CO2-removal strategy. This approach has the potential to improve crop production, increase protection from pests and diseases, and restore soil fertility and structure. Managed croplands worldwide are already equipped for frequent rock dust additions to soils, making rapid adoption at scale feasible, and the potential benefits could generate financial incentives for widespread adoption in the agricultural sector. However, there are still obstacles to be surmounted. Audited field-scale assessments of the efficacy of CO2 capture are urgently required together with detailed environmental monitoring. A cost-effective way to meet the rock requirements for CO2 removal must be found, possibly involving the recycling of silicate waste materials. Finally, issues of public perception, trust and acceptance must also be addressed.”
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Professor David Beerling FRS,
Sorby Professor of Natural Sciences &
Director, Leverhulme Centre for Climate Change Mitigation
Department of Animal and Plant Sciences
University of Sheffield
Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
Tel. +44(0)114-222-4359

Personal Assistant: Debbie Hill
 

 
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Thomas Goreau

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Feb 20, 2018, 7:04:16 AM2/20/18
to David Yarrow, joanna campe, Thomas Vanacore, Carbon Dioxide Removal, John Nissen, Greg Rau, Ron, Sev Clarke
I don’t know why you are having this discussion without Joanna Campe of Remineralize the Earth, and Tom Vanacore of Rock Dust Local (both cc’d on this message), as all these aspects are discussed in detail in their web sites, and also in about half a dozen chapters in the Geotherapy book.

Thomas J. F. Goreau, PhD
President, Global Coral Reef Alliance
President, Biorock Technology Inc.
Coordinator, Soil Carbon Alliance
Coordinator, United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development Small Island Developing States Partnership in New Sustainable Technologies
37 Pleasant Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Books:

Geotherapy: Innovative Methods of Soil Fertility Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, and Reversing CO2 Increase

Innovative Methods of Marine Ecosystem Restoration

The Green Disc, New Technologies for a New Future: Innovative Methods for Sustainable Development

No one can change the past, everyone can change the future

When lies trump truth, the dark ages begin
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Thomas Goreau

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Feb 20, 2018, 8:38:47 AM2/20/18
to Joanna Campe, David J Beerling, Soil Age, David Yarrow, joanna campe, Thomas Vanacore, Carbon Dioxide Removal, John Nissen, Greg Rau, Ron, Sev Clarke, Paul Hawken, Rola Khoury, John Liu, Marcy Cravat, Andrew Nisker, Albert Bates, Willie Smits, je...@columbia.edu, R.D.Sc...@uu.nl, oliver....@kyoto2.org, david....@ncl.ac.uk
Dear Joanna,

You are completely right that enhanced mineral weathering needs to be placed in the context of soil fertility enhancement. 

Most reviews considered only physical chemical weathering, and found it required expensively fine ground powder to speed up. 

But biological weathering is orders of magnitude faster!

Especially when rock powder is mixed with biochar and compost and beneficial micro-organisms!

Integrating enhanced weathering with biochar and regenerating intense soil mineral recycling in regenerative agriculture and forestry and pasture is the way to draw down CO2 the fastest.

Best wishes,
Tom

Thomas J. F. Goreau, PhD
President, Global Coral Reef Alliance
President, Biorock Technology Inc.
Coordinator, Soil Carbon Alliance
Coordinator, United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development Small Island Developing States Partnership in New Sustainable Technologies
37 Pleasant Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Books:

Geotherapy: Innovative Methods of Soil Fertility Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, and Reversing CO2 Increase

Innovative Methods of Marine Ecosystem Restoration

The Green Disc, New Technologies for a New Future: Innovative Methods for Sustainable Development

No one can change the past, everyone can change the future

When lies trump truth, the dark ages begin

On Feb 20, 2018, at 6:11 AM, Joanna Campe <joanna...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Tom and everyone,

Thank you so much for your comment! I really appreciate David's response, as well as Steve Diver. About a week ago I felt a strong need to speak further about placing remineralization within this listserv and  movement as a pioneer of regenerative agriculture. I also wanted to mention it's importance, acknowledge it's success particularly in Brazil in agroecology as well as the most sophisticated work from scientists and policymakers. Two laws have been passed through Congress.

There is so much I would like to say and share, and for the last week in Brazil, I've been having some internet and computer issues  and my dictation program which I rely on. I have been wanting to take a leap and jump into the discussion since the discussion began between Tom and Paul Hawken.

While I am here I will be meeting with the World Agroforestry Centre around collaboration and finding a team that could potentially  set up workshops in the post hurricane Caribbean, Africa and elsewhere based on the work of Ernst Gotsch. 

Only one application of rock dust or minerals is needed to jumpstart food forests that grow all fruits and vegetables, coffee and cacao in one system, with no outside inputs thereafter. It is the most inspiring agroforestry model that I have seen and we will be advocating through RTE. Please see the documentary, From Garden to Forest...

We are also looking for funding for a project in Cameroon that has a product called QuikGro that is a very highly successful   project using a combination of biotar and rock dust. The rock dust is from the area of Mount Cameroon, a pyroclastic ash that is locally available. We hope to send a new small portable innovative rock grinder when we have funding that would greatly increase the  output and their production. This project is headed up by a professor from the University of Georgia. Dr. Valentine Nzengung They have a contract with the Cameron Development Corporation and the demand for increased production is great.

We have a large collection of studies from Brazil in our research database on the website, unfortunately we do not have a coordinator for the English studies at this time. We have about 100 studies from recent conferences that need to be translated, but there is a tremendous amount of ongoing research in Brazil through EMBRAPA in 12 locations and the universities.

As far as industrial farming, Tom Vanacore and I were in Indiana in the fall and I think he would have a lot to share as well as the  research going on at the university of Illinois with the UK team which is now focused on sequestering carbon with basalt.  

I work with about 20-30 volunteers on a project management system, Basecamp: mainly graduate students, some scientists and other professionals. This year I hope to focus on bringing us larger funding to fulfill our mission.

I am not able to touch  in on everything we are working on here.

Dan Kittredge would be very welcome here in this discussion as well! Dr Ingram has mentioned that minerals are not necessary as an amendment for many years now and I would love to see that addressed  in another discussion. There are many people out there combining compost teas and rock dust, including a  large farm cooperative in Mexico that has a  yearly conference. There is a very large part of the earth not touched by glaciers and volcanic eruptions, etc. At the University of Copenhagen, scientists are looking to see how they can get the Greenland mud to the tropics to address social inequities and create food security. Rich countries have rich soils and poor countries have poor soils normally. They have a great Ted Talk, but without my computer I can't put the link here. Sorry, I don't want to get carried away, especially because I can't organize this very well on my iPhone and please forgive any editing that I was not able to do.

My very best to all of you! 

Joanna on iPhone

Joanna Campe, Executive Director
Remineralize the Earth
152 South Street
Northampton, MA 01060 USA
 
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Renaud de RICHTER

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Feb 20, 2018, 8:49:21 AM2/20/18
to Thomas Goreau, Joanna Campe, David J Beerling, Soil Age, David Yarrow, joanna campe, Thomas Vanacore, Carbon Dioxide Removal, John Nissen, Greg Rau, Ron, Sev Clarke, Paul Hawken, Rola Khoury, John Liu, Marcy Cravat, Andrew Nisker, Albert Bates, Willie Smits, je...@columbia.edu, Schuiling, R.D. (Olaf), oliver....@kyoto2.org, david....@ncl.ac.uk
Dear Thomas,
Four months ago I have searched bibliography of peer reviewed articles on mineral weathering performed at the same time than composting, or  mineral weathering performed at the same time making biochar and unfortunately I did not found anything.
Is there something new? Is there something older that I have missed? 
Best regards
Renaud


Cheers, John


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voglerlake

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Feb 21, 2018, 1:02:42 PM2/21/18
to Carbon Dioxide Removal
Leon et al.,

The prior work on crushed rock CDR has been viewed through the perspective of land resources. Yet seafloor mining is underway and should be factored in to the equation as the seafloor mining industry has far greater potential than land mining.

The mid-oceanic mountain range is 40000 miles long and olivine is continuously produced in many places along that range, along with a wide spectrum of other valuable minerals.

This type of mining is not my specialty yet I have reviewed the industry.

Also, your concern about scale can possibly be addressed by comparing the global sand industry tonnage figures. That industry currently moves ~40 Gt/y.

The technologies, across these various mineral related industrial fields, are well known as they are well used today and they are both profitable and scalable. There is no fundamental need for research to expand what is already in practice.

On the issue of biomass, there are a wide range of CDR related biotechnologies which can be quickly scaled up if:

1) the oceanic space and resources are used

2) the biotech is confined to well regulated high throughput bioreactors stationed in the marine space

Here is a resources reference work which I often post and I often update.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rKV9RDyt0VAUWonqmcZ_FPktgrtsgIm6SYjh9xUqATI/edit?usp=drivesdk&ouid=104123587495980221759

I did not take a reductionist view while compiling the work as what is needed is a system of systems approach. The systems approach is what is being recommended by many high level groups, such as the Pew Trust and the United Nations.

Many of the contributors to this discussion group champion individual technologies and the expertise that comes with those technologies is important and greatly appreciated. However, it is widely known now that no one technology should be relied upon, we need a basket of technologies.

My effort in the BlueBiochar Initiative is primarily focused upon, at a minimum, outlining the most prevalent technologies that should be in that basket and how they might be used in a mutually supportive way.

Geoengineering, CDR, or what is known as Geotherapy should never be viewed as a one-trick pony, that is my opinion and the opinion of many others.

I encourage you to take the time to study the discussion between Drs. Lackner and Solomon in the following debate, starting around 1:30.

https://youtu.be/_pKZLHNYPbM

In my view, Solomon is the wisest.

I hope this has helped inform you on the basics.

Best regards,



Renaud de RICHTER

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Feb 22, 2018, 7:12:00 AM2/22/18
to Thomas Goreau, Joanna Campe, David J Beerling, Soil Age, David Yarrow, joanna campe, Thomas Vanacore, Carbon Dioxide Removal, John Nissen, Greg Rau, Ron, Sev Clarke, Paul Hawken, Rola Khoury, John Liu, Marcy Cravat, Andrew Nisker, Albert Bates, Willie Smits, je...@columbia.edu, Schuiling, R.D. (Olaf), Oliver Tickell, david....@ncl.ac.uk
Thomas, any answer to my questions?
Best,
Renaud

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Thomas Goreau

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Feb 22, 2018, 8:13:01 AM2/22/18
to Renaud de RICHTER, Joanna Campe, David J Beerling, Soil Age, David Yarrow, joanna campe, Thomas Vanacore, Carbon Dioxide Removal, John Nissen, Greg Rau, Ron, Sev Clarke, Paul Hawken, Rola Khoury, John Liu, Marcy Cravat, Andrew Nisker, Albert Bates, Willie Smits, je...@columbia.edu, Schuiling, R.D. (Olaf), Oliver Tickell, david....@ncl.ac.uk
Most of the best work by soil fertility regenerators, like David Yarrow, is not published in academic journals.

Thomas J. F. Goreau, PhD
President, Global Coral Reef Alliance
President, Biorock Technology Inc.
Coordinator, Soil Carbon Alliance
Coordinator, United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development Small Island Developing States Partnership in New Sustainable Technologies
37 Pleasant Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Books:

Geotherapy: Innovative Methods of Soil Fertility Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, and Reversing CO2 Increase

Innovative Methods of Marine Ecosystem Restoration

The Green Disc, New Technologies for a New Future: Innovative Methods for Sustainable Development

No one can change the past, everyone can change the future

When lies trump truth, the dark ages begin
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Renaud de RICHTER

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Feb 22, 2018, 8:55:56 AM2/22/18
to Thomas Goreau, Joanna Campe, David J Beerling, Soil Age, David Yarrow, joanna campe, Thomas Vanacore, Carbon Dioxide Removal, John Nissen, Greg Rau, Ron, Sev Clarke, Paul Hawken, Rola Khoury, John Liu, Marcy Cravat, Andrew Nisker, Albert Bates, Willie Smits, je...@columbia.edu, Schuiling, R.D. (Olaf), Oliver Tickell, david....@ncl.ac.uk
Thanks Thomas, I saw that in one of your books, almost all chapters talk about reefs or marine restoration by Electrolysis, Electrically Stimulated,  Electrical Current  Electrical Fields. Can you explain in a few words how it works? I'm new in this topic and ignorant in this field.

Innovative Methods of Marine Ecosystem Restoration, Thomas J. Goreau, Robert Kent TrenchReef Restoration Using Seawater Electrolysis in Jamaica, Thomas J. Goreau and Wolf Hilbertz
Electrically Stimulated Corals in Indonesia Reef Restoration Projects Show Greatly Accelerated Growth Rates, Jamaludin Jompa, Suharto, Eka Marlina Anpusyahnur, Putra Nyoman Dwjja, Jobnico Subagio, Ilham Alimin, Rosihan Anwar, Syarif Syamsuddin, Thri Heni Utami Radiman, Heri Triyono, R. Ahmad Sue, and Nyoman Soeyasa

Biorock Reef Restoration in Gili Trawangan, North Lombok, Indonesia, Lalu Arifin Aria Bakti, Arben Virgota, Luh Putu Ayu Damayanti, Thri Heni Utami Radiman, Ambar Retnowulan, Hernawati, Abdus Sabil, and Delphine Robbe
Electrical Current Stimulates Coral Branching and Growth in Jakarta Bay, Neviaty P. Zamani, Khalid I. Abdallah, and Beginer Subhan
Electricity Protects Coral from Overgrowth by an Encrusting Sponge in Indonesia, Jens Nitzsche
Gorgonian Soft Corals Have Higher Growth and Survival in Electrical Fields, Diannisa Fitri and M. Aspari Rachman
Suitability of Mineral Accretion as a Rehabilitation Method for Cold-Water Coral Reefs, Susanna M. Strömberg, Tomas Lundälv, and Thomas J. Goreau
Utilization of Low-Voltage Electricity to Stimulate Cultivation of Pearl Oysters Pinctada maxima (Jameson), Prawita Tasya Karissa, Sukardi, Susilo Budi Priyono, N. Gustaf F. Mamangkey, and Joseph James Uel Taylor
Increased Oyster Growth and Survival Using Biorock Technology, Nikola Berger, Mara Haseltine, J. T. Boehm, and Thomas J. Goreau
Electrical Stimulation Increases Oyster Growth and Survival in Restoration Projects, Jason Shorr, James Cervino, Carmen Lin, Rand Weeks, and Thomas J. Goreau
Restoration of Seagrass Mats (Posidonia oceanica) with Electrical Stimulation, Raffaele Vaccarella and Thomas J. Goreau
Electrical Fields Increase Salt Marsh Survival and Growth and Speed Restoration in Adverse Conditions, James Cervino, Dajana Gjoza, Carmen Lin, Rand Weeks, and Thomas Goreau
Fish Postlarval Capture and Culture for Restoring Fisheries, Gilles Lecaillon
Mariculture Potential of Gracilaria Species [Rhodophyta] in Jamaican Nitrate-Enriched Back-Reef Habitats: Growth, Nutrient Uptake, and Elemental Composition, Arlen Havenner Macfarlane
Sustainable Reef Design to Optimize Habitat Restoration, Mara G. Haseltine
Marine Ecosystem Electrotherapy: Practice and Theory, Thomas J. Goreau

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Thomas Goreau

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Feb 22, 2018, 9:16:00 AM2/22/18
to Renaud de RICHTER, Joanna Campe, David J Beerling, Soil Age, David Yarrow, joanna campe, Thomas Vanacore, Carbon Dioxide Removal, John Nissen, Greg Rau, Ron, Sev Clarke, Paul Hawken, Rola Khoury, John Liu, Marcy Cravat, Andrew Nisker, Albert Bates, Willie Smits, je...@columbia.edu, Schuiling, R.D. (Olaf), Oliver Tickell, david....@ncl.ac.uk
We have used the Biorock marine electrolysis method for more than 42 years to grow limestone structures of any size or shape in the sea. 

Besides being the only marine construction material that grows stronger with age and is self repairing if damaged, we also greatly increase the settlement, growth, survival, and resistance to environmental stresses of all marine organisms, so we keep whole ecosystems alive when they would die, and grow them back at record rates where there is no natural recovery (we also grow back severely eroded beaches in a few months). 

We also produce large amounts of limestone sand by accelerating growth of calcareous algae. 

The book is mainly about work on restoring coral reefs, but also contains chapters showing that we greatly increase seagrass and salt marsh growth both above and below ground, so we can grow them where all other methods of restoration fail, due to the plants being washed out by waves before their roots grow. 

We are planning to use the method to restore mangroves in Borneo and plan to quantify the carbo sequestration, as we think this will prove to be the most cost-effective carbon sink. 

Thomas J. F. Goreau, PhD
President, Global Coral Reef Alliance
President, Biorock Technology Inc.
Coordinator, Soil Carbon Alliance
Coordinator, United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development Small Island Developing States Partnership in New Sustainable Technologies
37 Pleasant Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Books:

Geotherapy: Innovative Methods of Soil Fertility Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, and Reversing CO2 Increase

Innovative Methods of Marine Ecosystem Restoration

The Green Disc, New Technologies for a New Future: Innovative Methods for Sustainable Development

No one can change the past, everyone can change the future

When lies trump truth, the dark ages begin
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Renaud de RICHTER

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Feb 22, 2018, 9:34:04 AM2/22/18
to Thomas Goreau, Joanna Campe, David J Beerling, Soil Age, David Yarrow, joanna campe, Thomas Vanacore, Carbon Dioxide Removal, John Nissen, Greg Rau, Ron, Sev Clarke, Paul Hawken, Rola Khoury, John Liu, Marcy Cravat, Andrew Nisker, Albert Bates, Willie Smits, je...@columbia.edu, Schuiling, R.D. (Olaf), Oliver Tickell, david....@ncl.ac.uk
Thanks Thomas. I was not aware of those techniques. 
Seem complementary to techniques proposed in this very interesting paper published recently for coastal defence by living shorelines...
 
Morris R. L., Konlechner T. M., Ghisalberti M. & Swearer Stephen. From grey to green: Efficacy of eco-engineering solutions for nature-based coastal defence. Global Change Biology, 10.1111/gcb.14063. 

phys.org-Protecting our coasts naturally.pdf

Thomas Goreau

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Feb 22, 2018, 10:39:35 AM2/22/18
to soil...@googlegroups.com, Renaud de RICHTER, Joanna Campe, David J Beerling, David Yarrow, joanna campe, Thomas Vanacore, Carbon Dioxide Removal, John Nissen, Greg Rau, Ron, Sev Clarke, Paul Hawken, Rola Khoury, John Liu, Marcy Cravat, Andrew Nisker, Willie Smits, je...@columbia.edu, Schuiling, R.D. (Olaf), Oliver Tickell, david....@ncl.ac.uk
That’s exactly why we advocate rock powder, biochar, compost, and beneficial microorganisms as a one time, long lasting, slow release natural fertilizer, to increase carbon storage and recycling.

What is most criminally irresponsible about BECCS is that it treats carbon as waste to be hidden away, and prevented from being the raw material for recycling!

Thomas J. F. Goreau, PhD
President, Global Coral Reef Alliance
President, Biorock Technology Inc.
Coordinator, Soil Carbon Alliance
Coordinator, United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development Small Island Developing States Partnership in New Sustainable Technologies
37 Pleasant Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Books:

Geotherapy: Innovative Methods of Soil Fertility Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, and Reversing CO2 Increase

Innovative Methods of Marine Ecosystem Restoration

The Green Disc, New Technologies for a New Future: Innovative Methods for Sustainable Development

No one can change the past, everyone can change the future

When lies trump truth, the dark ages begin

On Feb 22, 2018, at 10:26 AM, Albert Bates <alb...@thefarm.org> wrote:

Tom, et al.

This thread did not include me when it began but I gather by the subject line it mentioned James Hansen's latest. The journal of publication does not allow the common practice of authors paying additional page charge for open access, but they do allow free viewing (no downloading) of the article: http://rdcu.be/HlCp

Answering Renaud's earlier question the article says:

"Co-deployment of enhanced weathering with other strategies such as reforestation and afforestation, and with feedstock crops used in BECCS and biochar, could also reduce costs and significantly enhance the combined carbon sequestration potential of these methods."

This is an important theme which addresses the question of how to scale all the geotherapies — with clever cascades they can be both carbon negative (drawdown) and cash negative (profitable). My next book, due out later this year from Chelsea Green, Carbon Cascades, describes about 90 of these processes in greater detail.

Cheers,

Albert



On 2018-02-22 09:15, Thomas Goreau wrote:
We have used the Biorock marine electrolysis method for more than 42
years to grow limestone structures of any size or shape in the sea.
Besides being the only marine construction material that grows
stronger with age and is self repairing if damaged, we also greatly
increase the settlement, growth, survival, and resistance to
environmental stresses of all marine organisms, so we keep whole
ecosystems alive when they would die, and grow them back at record
rates where there is no natural recovery (we also grow back severely
eroded beaches in a few months).
We also produce large amounts of limestone sand by accelerating growth
of calcareous algae.
The book is mainly about work on restoring coral reefs, but also
contains chapters showing that we greatly increase seagrass and salt
marsh growth both above and below ground, so we can grow them where
all other methods of restoration fail, due to the plants being washed
out by waves before their roots grow.
We are planning to use the method to restore mangroves in Borneo and
plan to quantify the carbo sequestration, as we think this will prove
to be the most cost-effective carbon sink.
Thomas J. F. Goreau, PhD
President, Global Coral Reef Alliance
President, Biorock Technology Inc.
COORDINATOR, SOIL CARBON ALLIANCE
COORDINATOR, UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES PARTNERSHIP IN NEW SUSTAINABLE
TECHNOLOGIES
37 PLEASANT STREET, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
BOOKS:
GEOTHERAPY: INNOVATIVE METHODS OF SOIL FERTILITY RESTORATION, CARBON
SEQUESTRATION, AND REVERSING CO2 INCREASE
THE GREEN DISC, NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR A NEW FUTURE: INNOVATIVE METHODS
FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
http://www.greenthindisc.org
NO ONE CAN CHANGE THE PAST, EVERYONE CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE
WHEN LIES TRUMP TRUTH, THE DARK AGES BEGIN
On Feb 22, 2018, at 8:55 AM, Renaud de RICHTER
<renaud.d...@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks Thomas, I saw that in one of your books, almost all chapters
talk about REEFS OR MARINE RESTORATION BY Electrolysis, Electrically

Stimulated,  Electrical Current  Electrical Fields. Can you explain
in a few words how it works? I'm new in this topic and ignorant in
this field.
Innovative Methods of Marine Ecosystem Restoration, Thomas J.
Goreau, Robert Kent TrenchReef Restoration Using SEAWATER
ELECTROLYSIS In Jamaica, Thomas J. Goreau and Wolf Hilbertz
ELECTRICALLY STIMULATED CORALS in Indonesia Reef Restoration
Projects Show Greatly Accelerated Growth Rates, _Jamaludin Jompa,

Suharto, Eka Marlina Anpusyahnur, Putra Nyoman Dwjja, Jobnico
Subagio, Ilham Alimin, Rosihan Anwar, Syarif Syamsuddin, Thri Heni
Utami Radiman, Heri Triyono, R. Ahmad Sue, and Nyoman
Soeyasa_Biorock Reef Restoration in Gili Trawangan, North Lombok,

Indonesia, Lalu Arifin Aria Bakti, Arben Virgota, Luh Putu Ayu
Damayanti, Thri Heni Utami Radiman, Ambar Retnowulan, Hernawati,
Abdus Sabil, and Delphine Robbe
ELECTRICAL CURRENT Stimulates Coral Branching and Growth in Jakarta

Bay, Neviaty P. Zamani, Khalid I. Abdallah, and Beginer Subhan
ELECTRICITY PROTECTS Coral from Overgrowth by an Encrusting Sponge
in Indonesia, Jens Nitzsche
Gorgonian Soft Corals Have Higher Growth and Survival in ELECTRICAL
FIELDS, Diannisa Fitri and M. Aspari Rachman

Suitability of Mineral Accretion as a Rehabilitation Method for
Cold-Water Coral Reefs, Susanna M. Strömberg, Tomas Lundälv, and
Thomas J. Goreau
Utilization of LOW-VOLTAGE ELECTRICITY to Stimulate Cultivation of
Pearl Oysters _Pinctada maxima _(Jameson), Prawita Tasya Karissa,

Sukardi, Susilo Budi Priyono, N. Gustaf F. Mamangkey, and Joseph
James Uel Taylor
Increased Oyster Growth and Survival Using Biorock Technology,
Nikola Berger, Mara Haseltine, J. T. Boehm, and Thomas J. Goreau
ELECTRICAL STIMULATION Increases Oyster Growth and Survival in

Restoration Projects, Jason Shorr, James Cervino, Carmen Lin, Rand
Weeks, and Thomas J. Goreau
Restoration of Seagrass Mats (_Posidonia oceanica_) with ELECTRICAL
STIMULATION, Raffaele Vaccarella and Thomas J. Goreau
ELECTRICAL FIELDS Increase Salt Marsh Survival and Growth and Speed

Restoration in Adverse Conditions, James Cervino, Dajana Gjoza,
Carmen Lin, Rand Weeks, and Thomas Goreau
Fish Postlarval Capture and Culture for Restoring Fisheries, Gilles
Lecaillon
Mariculture Potential of _Gracilaria _Species [Rhodophyta] in

Jamaican Nitrate-Enriched Back-Reef Habitats: Growth, Nutrient
Uptake, and Elemental Composition, Arlen Havenner Macfarlane
Sustainable Reef Design to Optimize Habitat Restoration, Mara G.
Haseltine
Marine Ecosystem ELECTROTHERAPY: Practice and Theory, _Thomas J.
Goreau_

2018-02-22 14:12 GMT+01:00 Thomas Goreau <gor...@bestweb.net>:
Most of the best work by soil fertility regenerators, like David
Yarrow, is not published in academic journals.
Thomas J. F. Goreau, PhD
President, Global Coral Reef Alliance
President, Biorock Technology Inc.
COORDINATOR, SOIL CARBON ALLIANCE
COORDINATOR, UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES PARTNERSHIP IN NEW SUSTAINABLE
TECHNOLOGIES
37 PLEASANT STREET, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
gor...@bestweb.net
www.globalcoral.org [1]
Skype: tomgoreau
Tel: (1) 617-864-4226 [2]
BOOKS:
GEOTHERAPY: INNOVATIVE METHODS OF SOIL FERTILITY RESTORATION, CARBON
SEQUESTRATION, AND REVERSING CO2 INCREASE
http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466595392 [3]

Innovative Methods of Marine Ecosystem Restoration
http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466557734 [4]
THE GREEN DISC, NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR A NEW FUTURE: INNOVATIVE
METHODS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
http://www.greenthindisc.org [5]
NO ONE CAN CHANGE THE PAST, EVERYONE CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE
WHEN LIES TRUMP TRUTH, THE DARK AGES BEGIN
COORDINATOR, SOIL CARBON ALLIANCE
COORDINATOR, UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES PARTNERSHIP IN NEW SUSTAINABLE
TECHNOLOGIES
37 PLEASANT STREET, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
gor...@bestweb.net
www.globalcoral.org [1]
Skype: tomgoreau
Tel: (1) 617-864-4226 [2]
BOOKS:
GEOTHERAPY: INNOVATIVE METHODS OF SOIL FERTILITY RESTORATION, CARBON
SEQUESTRATION, AND REVERSING CO2 INCREASE
http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466595392 [3]

Innovative Methods of Marine Ecosystem Restoration
http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466557734 [4]
THE GREEN DISC, NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR A NEW FUTURE: INNOVATIVE
METHODS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
http://www.greenthindisc.org [5]
NO ONE CAN CHANGE THE PAST, EVERYONE CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE
WHEN LIES TRUMP TRUTH, THE DARK AGES BEGIN
Tel +1 413 563 9938 [6]
email:  jca...@remineralize.org
http://www.remineralize.org [7]

On Feb 20, 2018, at 9:04 AM, Thomas Goreau <gor...@bestweb.net>
wrote:
I don’t know why you are having this discussion without Joanna
Campe of Remineralize the Earth, and Tom Vanacore of Rock Dust Local
(both cc’d on this message), as all these aspects are discussed in
detail in their web sites, and also in about half a dozen chapters
in the Geotherapy book.
Thomas J. F. Goreau, PhD
President, Global Coral Reef Alliance
President, Biorock Technology Inc.
COORDINATOR, SOIL CARBON ALLIANCE
COORDINATOR, UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING STATES PARTNERSHIP IN NEW SUSTAINABLE
TECHNOLOGIES
37 PLEASANT STREET, CAMBRIDGE, MA 02139
gor...@bestweb.net
www.globalcoral.org [1]
Skype: tomgoreau
Tel: (1) 617-864-4226 [2]
BOOKS:
GEOTHERAPY: INNOVATIVE METHODS OF SOIL FERTILITY RESTORATION, CARBON
SEQUESTRATION, AND REVERSING CO2 INCREASE
http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466595392 [3]

Innovative Methods of Marine Ecosystem Restoration
http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466557734 [4]
THE GREEN DISC, NEW TECHNOLOGIES FOR A NEW FUTURE: INNOVATIVE
METHODS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
http://www.greenthindisc.org [5]
NO ONE CAN CHANGE THE PAST, EVERYONE CAN CHANGE THE FUTURE
WHEN LIES TRUMP TRUTH, THE DARK AGES BEGIN

On Feb 19, 2018, at 10:38 PM, David Yarrow <dyar...@gmail.com>
wrote:
On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 4:44 PM, Sev Clarke <sevc...@me.com>
wrote:
Kevin,
This idea from David Yarrow to extract and use rock dust already
produced by crushing operations seems much more of an economic and
ecological goer than crushing new basaltic/silicate rock just for
the purpose. I also like his idea of blending it with biochar, but
would add manure to prevent/minimise both the former materials from
blowing or being taken away by surface runoff, before spreading the
mixture (preferably in aqueous form) over fields or ripping it into
deeper soil for forestry and tree crop purposes. I am much less
enthused with generating biochar from seaweed, as seaweed has many
higher-value uses. There is enough low-grade terrestrial biomass, in
the form of dirty bark, twigs and weed species, to generate large
quantities of biochar using the energy-efficient and relatively
non-polluting WHC process.
Sev
_WILLIAM S. CLARKE    __BA, BSC, (MELB) MBA (STANFORD)_
T: +613 5426 1330 [8]                 M: 0431 488 506
FROM: David Yarrow <dyar...@gmail.com>
SUBJECT: RE: [CDR] FARMING WITH CROPS AND ROCKS TO ADDRESS GLOBAL
CLIMATE, FOOD AND SOIL SECURITY | NATURE PLANTS
DATE: 20 February 2018 at 11:09:09 am AEDT
TO: "Ronal W. Larson" <rongre...@comcast.net>, John Nissen

<johnnis...@gmail.com>, Carbon Dioxide Removal
FROM: Ronal W. Larson <rongre...@comcast.net>
SUBJECT: RE: [CDR] FARMING WITH CROPS AND ROCKS TO ADDRESS GLOBAL
CLIMATE, FOOD AND SOIL SECURITY | NATURE PLANTS
DATE: February 19, 2018 at 3:56:44 PM MST
TO: John Nissen <johnnis...@gmail.com>, Carbon Dioxide Removal
<CarbonDiox...@googlegroups.com>, Greg Rau <ra...@llnl.gov>
CC: David Yarrow <dya...@nycap.rr.com>, Thomas Goreau

<gor...@bestweb.net>
John,  cc Greg and list,  adding 2 new ccs
See inserts below.
On Feb 19, 2018, at 3:37 PM, John Nissen <johnnis...@gmail.com>
wrote:
Hi Greg,
I just saw James Hansen has just published a paper on rock crushing
as well!  I've not had time to read it.
http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/2018/20180219_RockDustInFarming_NewsRelease.pdf
[9]
[RWL:   I HAven't found a free copy yet.  Hope someone can send.

Perhaps we need to combine rock crushing with biochar which may be
obtained in the necessary large quantities by pyrolysis of marine
biomass, e.g. from kelp farms.
Ron, has the biochar community considered obtaining biomass from the
sea and/or combining biochar with crushed rock? farms.
[RWL:  THERE ARE TWO (AT LEAST) ACTIVE IN COMBINED ROCK DUST AND
BIOCHAR (THEY BEING CC’D):  DAVID YARROW AND TOM GOREAU.  BOTH
HAVE REPORTED SUCCESS.
MICHAEL HAYES HAS BEEN VERY STRONG ON THIS LIST RE BIOCHAR FROM
OCEAN BIOMASS.  I AM UNAWARE ANYONE DOING OCEAN-BASED BIOCHAR
COMMERCIALLY - BUT IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT IS HAPPENING.
RON

Cheers, John
On Mon, Feb 19, 2018 at 6:02 PM, Greg Rau <gh...@sbcglobal.net>
wrote:

“The magnitude of future climate change could be moderated by
immediately reducing the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere as a
result of energy generation and by adopting strategies that actively
remove CO2 from it. Biogeochemical improvement of soils by adding
crushed, fast-reacting silicate rocks to croplands is one such
CO2-removal strategy. This approach has the potential to improve
crop production, increase protection from pests and diseases, and
restore soil fertility and structure. Managed croplands worldwide
are already equipped for frequent rock dust additions to soils,
making rapid adoption at scale feasible, and the potential benefits
could generate financial incentives for widespread adoption in the
agricultural sector. However, there are still obstacles to be
surmounted. Audited field-scale assessments of the efficacy of CO2
capture are urgently required together with detailed environmental
monitoring. A cost-effective way to meet the rock requirements for
CO2 removal must be found, possibly involving the recycling of
silicate waste materials. Finally, issues of public perception,
trust and acceptance must also be addressed.”
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[1] http://www.globalcoral.org/
[2] tel:(617)%20864-4226
[3] http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466595392
[4] http://www.crcpress.com/product/isbn/9781466557734
[5] http://www.greenthindisc.org/
[6] tel:(413)%20563-9938
[7] http://www.remineralize.org/
[8] tel:+61%203%205426%201330
[9]
http://www.columbia.edu/%7Ejeh1/mailings/2018/20180219_RockDustInFarming_NewsRelease.pdf
[10] https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-018-0108-y
[11] https://groups.google.com/group/CarbonDioxideRemoval
[12]
https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/CarbonDioxideRemoval/D5F7876A-FB69-4ED3-AA84-84A6CC095DE2%40sbcglobal.net
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[14]
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_I would also like to see us evolve beyond blandly accepting that there is
a difference between an individual who violates women and children and
members of a government whose political philosophy approves the violation
of women and children  in some other country to “make America more
secure.” All traumatized women and children are our traumatized women and
children. All traumatized ecosystems are the one we have to live in._ —
Martin Holsinger, _Deep Green Perspective_

-------------------------

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Thomas Goreau

unread,
Mar 5, 2018, 8:29:50 PM3/5/18
to Soil Age, Renaud de RICHTER, Joanna Campe, David J Beerling, David Yarrow, joanna campe, Thomas Vanacore, Carbon Dioxide Removal, John Nissen, Greg Rau, Ron, Sev Clarke, Paul Hawken, Rola Khoury, John Liu, Marcy Cravat, Andrew Nisker, Willie Smits, James Hansen, Schuiling, R.D. (Olaf), Oliver Tickell, david....@ncl.ac.uk
That’s a good question. The old traditional view of microbiology used the maxim “everything is everywhere, the environment selects” (this goes back about a hundred years to Selman Waksman), suggesting that if you added a particular type of carbon food, a bacteria specialized in that material would grow and consume it.  If that were true, probiotic inoculation would provide no benefits. Symbiotic microorganisms, such as mycorrhizae, which are dependent on particular other species, such as plants are a case in point. When Jamaican pine trees were transplanted to Puerto Rico, they all died, until somebody brought some Jamaican soil to plant them in, then they thrived, even though the climate is essentially identical. Orchid growers are very aware of the necessity of inoculating orchid seeds with microorganisms to allow them to grow. 

Those who promote beneficial microbial inoculation, regard them as absolutely essential. It seems that may be true of some, but not of all microorganisms. The most abundant soil bacteria by numbers based on DNA analysis turn out to be unknown because nobody knows how to culture them, so we don’t know what they eat. And they in turn seem to have different dominant soil populations in different soil type and climate regimes. 

Compost is not a uniform material, and each different source material in compost will require different sets of micro-organisms to decompose it. 

Thomas J. F. Goreau, PhD
President, Global Coral Reef Alliance
President, Biorock Technology Inc.
Coordinator, Soil Carbon Alliance
Coordinator, United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development Small Island Developing States Partnership in New Sustainable Technologies
37 Pleasant Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Books:

Geotherapy: Innovative Methods of Soil Fertility Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, and Reversing CO2 Increase

Innovative Methods of Marine Ecosystem Restoration

The Green Disc, New Technologies for a New Future: Innovative Methods for Sustainable Development

No one can change the past, everyone can change the future

When lies trump truth, the dark ages begin

On Mar 5, 2018, at 10:14 AM, Benoit Lambert <benoit....@gmail.com> wrote:

Thomas, 
Following these amazing exchanges, here I am reading Geotherapy for a second time !!, including on rock dust and David Yarrow's.
You write: 
"That’s exactly why we advocate rock powder, biochar, compost, and beneficial microorganisms as a one time, long lasting, slow release natural fertilizer, to increase carbon storage and recycling."
Rock powder, biochar, compost... sounds as THE powerful approach combining minerals, structure and life. Can we green deserts if we put those together, with water? 
Just to make sure I am not missing something, what do you refer to when adding 'and beneficial microorganism'? Aren't they coming with the compost?


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Thomas Goreau

unread,
Mar 5, 2018, 8:39:02 PM3/5/18
to Undisclosed recipients, Soil Age, Renaud de RICHTER, Joanna Campe, David J Beerling, David Yarrow, joanna campe, Thomas Vanacore, Carbon Dioxide Removal, John Nissen, Greg Rau, Ron, Sev Clarke, Paul Hawken, Rola Khoury, John Liu, Marcy Cravat, Andrew Nisker, Willie Smits, James Hansen, Schuiling, R.D. (Olaf), Oliver Tickell, david....@ncl.ac.uk
The maxim is often attributed to Baas-Becking, and claimed to be from Beijerinck, but the concept is clearly laid out in Waksman’s 1927 book on Principles of Soil Microbiology.

He also points out that about half the carbon in many soils are fungal hyphae, so glomalin’s importance was long established even if the term itself is a neologism rather than a new concept.


Thomas J. F. Goreau, PhD
President, Global Coral Reef Alliance
President, Biorock Technology Inc.
Coordinator, Soil Carbon Alliance
Coordinator, United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development Small Island Developing States Partnership in New Sustainable Technologies
37 Pleasant Street, Cambridge, MA 02139

Books:

Geotherapy: Innovative Methods of Soil Fertility Restoration, Carbon Sequestration, and Reversing CO2 Increase

Innovative Methods of Marine Ecosystem Restoration

The Green Disc, New Technologies for a New Future: Innovative Methods for Sustainable Development

No one can change the past, everyone can change the future

When lies trump truth, the dark ages begin
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Greg Rau

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Mar 5, 2018, 8:52:04 PM3/5/18
to Renaud de RICHTER, Thomas Goreau, Joanna Campe, David J Beerling, Soil Age, David Yarrow, joanna campe, Thomas Vanacore, Carbon Dioxide Removal, John Nissen, Greg Rau, Ron, Sev Clarke, Paul Hawken, Rola Khoury, John Liu, Marcy Cravat, Andrew Nisker, Albert Bates, Willie Smits, je...@columbia.edu, Schuiling, R.D. (Olaf), Oliver Tickell, david....@ncl.ac.uk
Isn’t “eco engineering” still geoengineering, or isn’t it all eco engineering? ;-)
Greg

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