Salk Institute researchers are developing soybeans with deeper root systems that could help crops endure drought while storing more carbon underground. An $18 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund supports field trials in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa to measure actual carbon capture, yield impacts, and scalability under real farming conditions. Initial lab estimates suggest one hectare of these plants could store an extra metric ton of CO2 per year, but field data is pending. Researchers are also testing whether deeper roots reduce fertilizer runoff and allow denser planting. Adoption hurdles remain, including farmer and seed company buy-in, though the study projects up to a gigaton of annual CO2 removal by 2040 if widely adopted.
