Get ready to rock to cut CO2

A £68,000 project looking at the potential of farmland to tie up CO2 by harnessing natural weathering processes on rock dust spread on farmland is seeing farmers and scientists collaborate on a carbonfriendly approach which could help deliver Scottish Government climate change goals.

The project, supported by the Knowledge Transfer and Innovation Fund (KTIF), is being overseen by the organic standards body, Scottish Organic Producers Association (SOPA. Known as “Rock On Soils”, the initiative will investigate the use of crushed basic silicate rocks as a soil input – and aims to determine the carbon sequestration potential alongside any additional soil and biodiversity benefits.

SOPA will be collaborating with Abertay University, James Hutton Institute, the University of Dundee, and the geoscience department of German institution Forschungszentrum Juelich and local farmers on the eight-month project.

The project also aims to bring together forwardthinking farmers to test the practicalities of using the silicate rock crushings on farm.

Debs Roberts, policy manager for SOPA, said that due to Covid-19 restrictions, the project had been adapted to take on a more innovative virtual style of delivery.

She said: “This is such an intriguing project to be part of, and it is an excellent example of grassroots farming grasping the opportunity to work with cross-sector partners in the scientific sector.”

Project facilitator Emily Grant said: “The initial research suggests that this product could be a game changer, not only in terms of tackling climate change, but also helping to improve soil and plant health.

“We could be at the cutting edge of some really positive work for carbonfriendly farming.”