Spread dust to capture carbon

A new study, widely reported in the press, shows how spreading volcanic rock dust boosts a soil’s ability to draw carbon from the air. Adding crushed basalt to farmland could remove more CO₂ than the total global emissions from aviation and shipping.

“In many agricultural regions, crushed rock is routinely used to improve soil pH,” said Steve Banwart, Professor of Integrated Soil, Agriculture and Water Research. “Adapting this to use basalt dust could capture vast amounts of CO₂.”