Hokkaido University Museum will hold its 5th Saturday Public Seminar of 2025, "The Double Effect of Basalt: Killing Two Birds with One Stone: Crop Production and Carbon Dioxide Removal," on August 9th.

The fifth speaker will be Professor Yo Toma of Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University. Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), which absorbs CO2 by promoting rock weathering, is one of the atmospheric carbon dioxide removal technologies for mitigating global warming. Spreading rock (especially basalt) powder on farmland is expected to improve crop productivity through the leaching of calcium, magnesium, silica, and other elements caused by rock weathering. In this lecture, he will discuss the carbon cycle and soil fertility of farmland, including CO2 absorption through rock weathering. Furthermore, he will discuss the impact of ERW technology on crops and CO2 absorption, and the potential for CDR on Japanese farmland, with specific examples and reports.

Click here for more information. *You will be redirected to Hokkaido University Museum website.