18 Oct 13
Originally posted by humyThat could help in more than just food supplies. It said they use 12X more CO2, so especially gen modded plants could be used as 'weeds' with the express purpose of soaking up CO2, helping the environment.
http://phys.org/news/2013-10-mathematical-photosynthesis-path-super-crops.html
18 Oct 13
Originally posted by sonhouseAll plants soak up CO2, the question is what happens to it after the plant dies. It is often irrelevant how fast it gets soaked up.
That could help in more than just food supplies. It said they use 12X more CO2, so especially gen modded plants could be used as 'weeds' with the express purpose of soaking up CO2, helping the environment.
I have heard good arguments that a large part of the cause of global warming is soil degradation by farming and that a large part of the solution to global warming is better farming practices that put carbon into the soil. However it seems to be politically more important to only talk about fossil fuels.
18 Oct 13
Originally posted by twhiteheadAre there quantitative data on the levels of CO2 from bad farming methods V the level of CO2 from fuels? I don't know, just seems to me with literally tens of millions of vehicles belching away 24/7 would be shoving more CO2 into the atmosphere than farming. Of course I am just guessing.
All plants soak up CO2, the question is what happens to it after the plant dies. It is often irrelevant how fast it gets soaked up.
I have heard good arguments that a large part of the cause of global warming is soil degradation by farming and that a large part of the solution to global warming is better farming practices that put carbon into the soil. However it seems to be politically more important to only talk about fossil fuels.
19 Oct 13
Originally posted by sonhouseAccording to this:
Are there quantitative data on the levels of CO2 from bad farming methods V the level of CO2 from fuels? I don't know, just seems to me with literally tens of millions of vehicles belching away 24/7 would be shoving more CO2 into the atmosphere than farming. Of course I am just guessing.
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/global.html
33% of all C02 produced is from land use and agricultural practices.
Transport is a mere 13%.
I am not sure where fertilizer production was classified but it too is a big one.