RTE at WIREC

The Potential of Remineralization with Rock Mineral Fines to Transform Agriculture, Forestry, Sustainable Biofuel Production, Sequester Carbon and Stabilize the Climate

Remineralize the Earth (RTE), an international nonprofit (NGO) based in Northampton, Massachusetts has been invited by the State Department to sponsor an Official Side Event at the Washington International Renewable Energy Conference 2008 (WIREC) on March 3rd. President Joanna Campe and Executive Director Dan Kittredge will be speakers.

RTE at WIREC

RTE focuses on the critical role that soil remineralization with finely ground rock dust plays in agriculture by increasing growth, health and the nutrient value of all plant life, reversing global desertification through agroforestry and reforestation, producing sustainable biofuels, sequestering carbon and stabilizing the climate.

Hard silicate rock dust in the form of mineral fines is generated as a by-product of the aggregate and stone industries worldwide (as well as many other viable sources of minerals), and millions of tons are inexpensively and readily available with the potential to increase growth and sequester carbon as much as 2-4 times, creating healthy drought, disease and insect resistant biomass.

Long term experiments in Europe have shown that in a forest where pine seedlings were remineralized, after 24 years the wood volume was four times higher than in the untreated area. One application lasted for 60 years. (Von u. Sauter and K. Foerst ) Reforestation and remineralization have the potential to create healthy drought and fire resistant forests in Southern California, Greece and Spain; one example of remineralization’s enormous potential.

RTE’s Agroforestry Project in Costa Rica: Food, Fuels and Income with award-winning ecological designer John Todd of Ocean Arks International, intercropped with commercial hardwoods, fruit trees and Jatropha, a sustainable biofuel producing plant, is a model project to sustain local communities and sequester carbon.

RTE’s Become Carbon Neutral Program, in partnership with Ocean Arks International is the only program that offsets carbon emissions through soil remineralization, greatly enhancing growth and carbon sequestration over other reforestation programs.

RTE’s Real Food Campaign organizes, networks and promotes healthier nutrient dense foods for our food supply through remineralization.

Remineralize the Earth networks and promotes remineralization projects and initiatives worldwide and looks forward to forming partnerships with foundations and educational institutions, sustainably committed governments and policymakers, the international business community and NGOs.