We are pleased to share “The case for ocean iron fertilization field trials,” a new open-access peer-reviewed publication from the ExOIS community that makes the case for field trials as part of the next generation of ocean iron fertilization (OIF) research. Access our press release and publication here.

This study argues that past field experiments were not designed to evaluate key questions around effectiveness, durability, and environmental impacts of OIF. We provide a framework for larger, longer field trials with rigorous monitoring, transparent MRV, and clear go/no-go safeguards. A central focus is constraining additional carbon export and biogeochemical responses using field observations and models. Equally important is early and meaningful community engagement

This work does not advocate for at-scale deployment, but rather calls for responsible research to determine if OIF can be safely and credibly pursued for mCDR. The climate crisis requires that along with emissions reductions, we develop the necessary scientific understanding of mCDR now.

The paper is published in Dialogues on Climate Change (DCC), a relatively new journal that fosters scholarly debate.