Rock Dust Applications and Enhanced Rock Weathering
Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is an emerging practice in which finely ground magnesium- and calcium-rich silicate rock ("rock dust") is applied to agricultural soils to enhance the removal of carbon dioxide—a major greenhouse gas driving climate change—from the atmosphere. The added rock accelerates natural geochemical weathering processes that store removed carbon in stable inorganic forms over long time frames.
Interest in ERW and rock dust has increased in recent years due to growing attention to carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategies and the development of carbon markets that provide financial incentives for on-farm climate mitigation practices. As a result, farms may be approached by a range of entities, including carbon project developers, research programs, and public agencies, offering opportunities to participate in ERW-related activities.
Learn more about the practice and whether it is right for your farm.
