Salk Institute engineers deeper-rooted soybeans to store carbon and resist drought
Researchers funded by the Bezos Earth Fund are genetically editing crops to combat climate change while improving resilience to climate extremes.
What to know
- Salk Institute scientists have genetically edited soybeans with roots that grow deeper to sequester more carbon and access subsurface water during droughts.
- An $18 million Bezos Earth Fund grant will fund field trials this fall to measure carbon storage potential, longevity, and whether crop yields remain viable.
- Early lab estimates suggest deeper-rooted soybeans could store an additional metric ton of CO2 per hectare annually, while also potentially reducing fertilizer runoff that harms marine ecosystems.
- The research represents a new approach to carbon removal alongside existing methods like direct air capture and reforestation, but scientists must still prove scalability and long-term viability on working farms.
Todd Michael Research professor, Salk InstituteWolfgang Busch Director, Harnessing Plants Initiative at Salk InstituteAshish Rajurkar Research scientist, Salk InstituteBezos Earth Fund Funding organizationSalk Institute for Biological Studies Research institution
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Salk estimates enhanced soybeans could store additional metric ton of CO2 per hectare yearly
Based on earlier lab results, one hectare (2.5 acres) of deeper- and bigger-rooted soybean plants could store an additional metric ton of carbon dioxide per year. Field results are expected this fall. Researchers hypothesize the root systems may also increase crop density and reduce nitrogen runoff.
“Carbon dioxide released by burning fossil fuels traps heat in the atmosphere, driving human-caused climate change.”
— Associated Press, News reporting · source -
7 outlets Scientists hope deeper-rooted soybeans can withstand climate extremes and store more carbon
first by Phys.org, 5d ago · also Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, Orlando Sentinel, Mercury News, Baltimore Sun, Philadelphia Inquirer
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Salk researchers are field-testing genetically engineered soybeans with deeper roots. The goal is to make crops more drought-resilient while storing more carbon underground
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# ClimateChange # SoyBeans # Agriculture From AP News.com: Scientists hope deeper-rooted soybeans can withstand climate extremes and store more carbon https:// apnews.com/article/climate-car bon-roots-agriculture-research-weather-96cceef4cae98b4cd6f516ef71315949?utm_source=app&utm_medium=iOS_share&utm_campaign=more_org_joinmastodon_app_shareactione…
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Researchers outline dual benefits: drought resilience and carbon sequestration
The deeper roots are designed to access water below the top soil layer during droughts while storing carbon farther underground where it is less vulnerable to being released during farming operations. The institute also aims to boost carbon storage through larger root systems and increased suberin, a cork-like substance that decomposes more slowly.
“We are actually steering in a direction that is very concerning. It will become harder to grow enough food for enough people.”
— Wolfgang Busch -
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Bezos Earth Fund awards $18 million to test deeper-rooted crops in field conditions — The funding will support field trials measuring how resilient the edited plants are to drought and climate stressors, how much carbon they can store and for how long, and strategies for scaling production to farms.
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Salk Institute announces gene-edited soybeans designed for deeper roots and carbon storage — Researchers revealed they have created soybean plants with roots that penetrate straight down into soil instead of spreading sideways, after identifying 347 genes related to carbon storage and root growth over six years of studying plant genomes.