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Re:Enzymes from nine organisms combined to create new pathwa... by craigyk on Friday November 18, 2016 @01:08AM (#12984711)
Nvmind, ran the numbers... this plan sucks.
Re:Enzymes from nine organisms combined to create new pathwa... by craigyk on Friday November 18, 2016 @01:21AM (#12984767)
Then again, if my numbers are right, if humankind dedicated <1% of land used worldwide for food to growing trees and locking away the cellulose, we would cancel out worldwide CO2 emissions. Since most of that land is used as pasture, there is more than enough play to keep the world fed, and I could see up to 10% being tasked to this purpose , which seems doable in an emergency.
Re:Enzymes from nine organisms combined to create new pathwa... by mtnygard on Tuesday November 22, 2016 @01:48PM (#13016398)
Have you accounted for moving the trees from where they grow to where they can be used? (E.g., milling, planing, curing.) That will take energy that likely offsets some of the benefits.

Likewise, moving the lumber or finished goods to consumers will also require some energy that might offset the carbon removed.

Re:Enzymes from nine organisms combined to create new pathwa... by filoeleven on Friday November 18, 2016 @10:20AM (#12987309)
I'm confused...the numbers sucked for extensive farming in order to cut CO2, but only 1% of arable land would cancel CO2? What am I missing?
Re:Enzymes from nine organisms combined to create new pathwa... by craigyk on Sunday November 20, 2016 @03:06AM (#12997845)
I initially thought it didn't look good when looking at the amount absorbed yearly per tree, but then was surprised by some estimates on how many trees you can fit per unit area. A more accurate estimate needs to be done though, different numbers I found put the final range at about an order of magnitude.

Also, most farming and stable forests are mostly carbon neutral. This would require continual seeding, harvesting and sequestration of the cellulose. Maybe it will be a good thing though that cellulose+lignins are so hard to breakdown.

Re:Enzymes from nine organisms combined to create new pathwa... by zardo on Friday November 18, 2016 @02:16PM (#12989308)
Still plenty of room at sea. Is there a fast growing mangrove?