Sucking up CO2Carbon-guzzling supertrees.
Big Picture
Growing trees is the cheapest way to draw down CO₂. Yet, far from netting new trees with planting efforts, the planet loses 25 million acres of forest each year to fire, agriculture, harvesting, and pests. As a result of other changes to the climate system, it also appears that forests’ capacity to retain carbon is decreasing. It’s no longer enough to plant new trees. We have to develop trees that grow taller, faster, and stronger.
How it Works
Living Carbon uses genetic engineering to improve how trees break down a toxic byproduct of photosynthesis and, as a result, conserve more energy for growing. They also dial up the assimilation of certain metals, heightening the trees’ resistance to fungal decomposition. The result is carbon-guzzling, photosynthesis-enhanced trees that grow 30-54% faster while producing more drought- and rot-resistant wood.
Unfair Advantage
With their metal accumulation trait, the seedlings can grow on degraded mine and ag land where other trees can’t, yielding more valuable wood products that can be harvested years sooner than typical trees. This growth rate shortens the path to profitability of timberland by 2-5 years, resulting in a 50% revenue increase over 20 years. In the process, they double the CO₂ sequestration capacity of managed forests, unlocking new upside revenue from carbon markets.
02
Gigatons of CO₂e
potentially removed annually
MADDIE HALL CEO & CO-FOUNDER
Maddie previously led special projects at OpenAI and Y Combinator. Before that, she worked on Product for First Round Capital.
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