# How well does soil actually store carbon?

- Show: [Catalyst](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst)
- Published: 2022-10-06
- Length: 35m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-06-how-well-does-soil-actually-store-carbon

## Summary

Eric Slessarev, a staff scientist at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, explains the complex science of soil carbon, noting that while agricultural practices like no-till farming and cover cropping can sequester carbon, its durability is uncertain due to microbial breakdown. He highlights that our current understanding of how minerals and microbes interact to stabilize carbon has outstripped the 'first-order' models used in carbon markets, which rely on outdated assumptions about carbon persistence. Slessarev also distinguishes between organic carbon sequestration and enhanced weathering, emphasizing the significant challenges in measuring additionality and ensuring long-term storage.

## Chapters

- [0:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-06-how-well-does-soil-actually-store-carbon#t=2) Introduction: Soil Carbon Science with Eric Slessarev
- [4:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-06-how-well-does-soil-actually-store-carbon#t=265) How Agriculture Altered the Soil Carbon Cycle
- [12:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-06-how-well-does-soil-actually-store-carbon#t=753) Enhanced Weathering vs. Organic Carbon
- [16:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-06-how-well-does-soil-actually-store-carbon#t=996) Durability and Measurement Challenges in Regenerative Ag
- [26:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-06-how-well-does-soil-actually-store-carbon#t=1561) The Role of Minerals and Microbes in Carbon Persistence
- [29:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-06-how-well-does-soil-actually-store-carbon#t=1784) Outdated Soil Carbon Models and Future Directions

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (company)
- Carbon Plan (company)
- Energy Hub (company)
- Descent (other)
- DNDC (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Advancing Soil Carbon Measurement for Sustainable Food Systems with Chris Tolles of Yard Stick](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-08-29-advancing-soil-carbon-measurement-for-sustainable-food-systems-with-chris-tolles) (Hardware to Save a Planet)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-10-06-how-well-does-soil-actually-store-carbon. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Catalyst.