Scientists Research Deeper-Rooted Crops to Enhance Climate Resilience and Carbon Sequestration
Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies are investigating whether genetically engineered crops with deeper root systems can help combat climate change. The goal is for these roots to withstand the effects of climate change, such as drought, while also drawing more carbon from the atmosphere and storing it underground. Over the past six years, Salk scientists have created an 'encyclopedia' of plant genomes, identifying 347 genes related to carbon storage and root growth. By editing the DNA of common row crops like soybeans and sorghum, they have developed plants with roots that penetrate deeper into the soil. An $18 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund is supporting field tests in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa to measure the resilience of these plants to climate stressors, their carbon storage capacity, and their potential for large-scale adoption on farms. Initial field results are expected this fall.
