Researchers are testing enhanced rock weathering (ERW) to improve soil fertility for cacao trees in Brazil's Atlantic Rainforest. By applying ground basalt dust, farmers can neutralize soil acidity and release essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium, increasing crop yields without clearing more forest. This method also serves as a carbon removal strategy. The process converts atmospheric carbon dioxide into stable soil carbonate minerals, offering a way to combine agricultural productivity with active climate mitigation.
