In addition to rapid decarbonizing the global economy, limiting global warming to below 2 °C will require large‑scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR), on the order of ~10 Gt CO₂ yr⁻¹ by 2050. One promising pathway is terrestrial carbon sequestration through the acceleration of natural biogeochemical cycles. A key challenge, however, is achieving CDR at this scale without exacerbating competition for land, water, and other resources or undermining food security. In this talk, I present my research on three soil‑based CDR approaches that can simultaneously remove atmospheric CO₂ and enhance agricultural productivity. My work focuses on maximizing climate mitigation and agronomic benefits through the deliberate integration of biological and chemical processes. The three approaches are: (1) biochar, which is charcoal, but produced from a large variety of organic materials and comprises carbon highly resistant against re-release of the trapped carbon dioxide; (2) the application of silicate rock dust, primarily basalt, which captures atmospheric CO₂ through enhanced weathering; and (3) the formation of stable soil organic carbon derived from plant biomass and transformed into persistent forms by soil microorganisms. Finally, I demonstrate how these soil‑based CDR methods can be strategically combined to generate synergistic benefits for carbon sequestration, soil health, and agricultural productivity.

About the Speaker

Wolfram is an interdisciplinary scientist with background in biology (BSc), environmental and agricultural sciences (MSc) and environmental chemistry and engineering (PhD). His work integrates knowledge and methods across disciplines to investigate technologies and processes to sequester large amounts of carbon in soil systems. The goal of his research is to mitigate and eventually reverse the effects of climate change while also providing agricultural and environmental co-benefits, such as nutrient provision and soil enhancement.