Delve into the work of Raffael Jovine, our Chief Scientist, who authored 'Light to Life,' offering a fresh perspective on the profound influence of photosynthesis on Earth's evolution.
The book underscores the critical role of photosynthesis in shaping our environment and the very trajectory of life on Earth itself. The book takes us on a journey of how from the beginning of Earth the conversion of solar energy has driven global change. The book outlines of how despite unprecedented challenges facing humans and the environment, there is hope. The discovery and exploration of photosynthesis spans the last 400 years of tumultuous human development, and yet, with the help of photosynthesis we have grown societies and human accomplishments throughout.
While global warming, habitat loss, ocean acidification and increased pressure on arable land threaten the very foundation of our world, Jovine provides a blueprint and many examples of cutting-edge innovation, traditional farming practices, and many other approaches that we can use to re-green and restore our planet. Everyone of us, whether we live in inner cities or remote deserts, can contribute, and participate to grow a healthier, brighter future for all of us.
The book is available here.
“Almost from the beginning of life on Earth, photosynthesis has generally increased living spaces and vital resources. It has transformed our oceans, created our atmosphere, sculpted our mountains and continents. It has turned our once hyper-hostile young planet into a vibrant, elegant and abundant world into which it is still pumping more life energy and usable energy than anything else does. At the same time, it has managed to be gorgeous, colourful and surprising.”
“Photosynthesis is the original, largest and most powerful ‘Net Negative’ technology ever, and it is at our fingertips right now. Increasing photosynthesis is something that every one of us can do, no matter where we live, or what our income bracket. It works everywhere in the world and, compared to any other carbon reduction measures, it is extremely affordable.”
“In the first billion years of their life, photosynthesising cyanobacteria started to have a profound planet changing impact, thanks to the waste they produced from splitting water. As these microbes grew and bacterial photosynthesis increased, they consumed carbon sources in the oceans and absorbed carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, slowly turning our world into the blue alkali oceans that we see today. The waste they produced was oxygen and, although that is now seen as an essential ingredient of life on our planet, it almost killed the other pioneering photosynthetic organisms from Earth’s infancy.”
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