EnhancedRockWeathering(ERW)inAgriculture

Why It Matters

Agriculture contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, and ERW offers a scalable method to make farming carbon-negative while improving food security for a growing global population. If mainstream, farms would become carbon sinks, potentially earning carbon credits, leading to more resilient crops and reduced fertilizer needs. Farmers and agricultural technology companies would win, benefiting from improved soil and new revenue streams, while fertilizer manufacturers might see some market contraction. Technical challenges include scaling the mining and grinding of vast quantities of rock, optimizing rock application rates for different soil types, and accurately monitoring carbon sequestration. A realistic timeline for widespread adoption is 15-30 years, building on current pilot successes. The UK, US, and Australia are leading the charge in agricultural ERW research and commercial trials. A second-order consequence could be the unintended introduction of heavy metals or other trace elements into agricultural soils if rock sources are not carefully selected, impacting food safety.