Enhanced Rock Weathering May Curb Global Warming

Researchers model adoption trajectories for carbon-sequestering technology with benefits for farmers

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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A new study examines the potential for enhanced rock weathering, a process that crushes silicate rocks and adds them to crop soil, to remove up to 1 gigaton of carbon from the atmosphere annually by 2100. The researchers modeled adoption rates across different regions, finding that while high-income countries will initially lead, countries in the Global South like India and Brazil will overtake them by 2050 as the process provides co-benefits for farmers through soil enrichment.

Why it matters

Enhanced rock weathering is an emerging carbon sequestration technology that could have a significant impact on global emissions if widely adopted. However, the researchers note that expanding access to the Global South will be essential to maximize the potential for carbon removal and ensure an equitable distribution of the benefits, such as increased farmer incomes and crop yields.

The details

The process of enhanced rock weathering involves crushing silicate rocks and adding the rock dust to crop soil, where it naturally reacts with carbon dioxide and binds the carbon into stable mineral forms that can persist for millennia. This not only sequesters carbon, but also enriches the soil with nutrients like calcium, magnesium, and iron, potentially reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers and making soils less acidic.

  • The new study was published on February 16, 2026.
  • The researchers model trajectories for enhanced rock weathering adoption through 2100.

The players

Chuan Liao

Assistant professor in the Ashley School of Global Development and the Environment, part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University, and the senior author of the study.

Benjamin Z. Houlton

The Ronald P. Lynch Dean of CALS at Cornell University and a co-author of the study, who has conducted extensive field studies and farmer outreach around the practice of enhanced rock weathering.

Veerabhadran Ramanathan

Professor at the University of California, San Diego and adjunct professor of global development in CALS, and a co-author of the study.

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What they’re saying

“If this were to be scaled, the Global South would eventually contribute more, and tech transfer and global carbon markets could accelerate adoption in these regions while also making adoption more equitable.”

— Chuan Liao, Assistant professor (Mirage News)

“We need to sharpen scientific predictions of enhanced rock weathering, because it has amazing potential to drive carbon profits directly into farmers' pocketbooks.”

— Benjamin Z. Houlton, Dean of CALS (Mirage News)

What’s next

The researchers plan to conduct further empirical research to better understand the social dynamics that impact the adoption of enhanced rock weathering, as they note that "climate change is not just an environmental problem, it's also a social science problem."

The takeaway

Enhanced rock weathering is a promising carbon sequestration technology that could remove up to 1 gigaton of carbon from the atmosphere annually by 2100, but its widespread adoption, particularly in the Global South, will be crucial to maximizing its potential impact on global emissions and ensuring an equitable distribution of the benefits for farmers.