Researchers Aim for Resilient Soybeans to Combat Climate Challenges

WHO:

Phys.org - Research scientist Ashish Rajurkar is involved in the study of soybean plants.

ABC News - Wolfgang Busch is the director of the Salk Institute’s Harnessing Plants Initiative.

ABC News - Todd Michael is a research professor at the Salk Institute.

WHAT:

ABC News - Researchers are testing deeper-rooted soybeans to withstand climate change and store more carbon.

ABC News - An $18 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund will support the research.

ABC News - Salk researchers estimate that one hectare (2.5 acres) of deeper-rooted soybean plants could store an additional metric ton of carbon dioxide per year.

ABC News - A 2025 study co-authored by Busch modeled that about a gigaton of carbon dioxide per year could be removed from the atmosphere by 2040 with the adoption of deeper-rooted crops.

WHERE:

ABC News - The research is being conducted at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies and field sites at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Missouri, Kansas, and Iowa.

WHEN:

ABC News - Initial results from the field are expected this fall.

ABC News - The study projects that by 2040, significant carbon dioxide removal could be achieved.

WHY:

ABC News - The research aims to combat the pressing issue of climate change and its impact on food production.

ABC News - The motivation includes the need to grow enough food for a growing population and to mitigate the effects of climate change.

HOW:

ABC News - Researchers are editing the DNA of soybean plants to create deeper root systems.

ABC News - The study involves measuring plant resilience to drought and other climate stressors, as well as carbon storage capabilities.

ABC News - The research includes using underground cameras and sensing equipment to track carbon levels and root growth in real-time.

(UPDATED September 19, 2026 00:01 UTC)

Researchers at the Salk Institute, including Ashish Rajurkar and Todd Michael, are working on a groundbreaking study involving genetically edited soybean plants designed to develop deeper root systems that can withstand climate change and enhance carbon storage. Supported by an $18 million grant from the Bezos Earth Fund, the project aims to demonstrate that one hectare of these deeper-rooted soybeans could potentially store an additional metric ton of carbon dioxide each year, with significant carbon removal projected by 2040. Initial results from the field are expected this fall, as the team employs advanced techniques like underground cameras to monitor root growth and carbon levels in real-time.