Wollastonite: A Game Changer for Ontario’s Farmers

Feb 28, 2024

In the January 26 edition of Frontenac News, we introduced Canadian Wollastonite (CW) of Seeley’s Bay, and talked about how the company’s product can be used to both enhance crop yields and quality, and at the same time help to fight climate change. This month, we’ll take a close look as some of the science involved, and we will also report on the experiences of one Ontario farmer who has used CW’s product to achieve some pretty impressive results.

In the 21st century the dangers associated with global warming remain an ever-present threat, and the world is now struggling to achieve the carbon dioxide emissions goals set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement. According to the most recent reports, it will be essential to remove at least 10 billion tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year by 2050; beyond that, the annual target jumps to 20 billion tons. These will be challenging goals to meet, and among the various carbon removal technologies that are now available, Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) offers one of the most promising solutions.

Rock weathering is a naturally occurring process that erodes rock and at the same time removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. As carbon dioxide is dissolved in rainwater, it reacts with surface rock and locks carbon away in the soil for hundreds of thousands of years. Studies have estimated that this natural process removes at least 1 gigaton of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year.

As the name suggests, ERW is designed to greatly accelerate this naturally occurring process. This is accomplished by spreading finely crushed silicate rock on agricultural land, and letting nature do the rest. It is an extremely effective and affordable carbon removal technology because it does not require any new infrastructure and makes highly productive use of existing mining, transport, and farming resources. As such, ERW serves as the basis for the operating model now being implemented by CW and its partner, UNDO Carbon of the United Kingdom.

Wollastonite, the calcium silicate mineral now being mined in Seeley’s Bay, has shown itself to be exceptionally well suited for both ERW and agricultural purposes. It absorbs carbon dioxide at a rate that is ten times faster than comparable silicate minerals, and because it is finely crushed before application, it takes only two years to weather. Moreover, it has low levels of heavy metals, making it very safe for agricultural use.

Apart from its impressive abilities to capture carbon dioxide, wollastonite offers other important benefits to farms. It can be spread on any type of farmland and be reapplied anytime. As the rock breaks down it releases calcium, magnesium, silicon, and other nutrients into the soil. These have been shown to improve crop yields, increase pest resistance, and improve the Members of the UNDO team holding crushed wollastonite. pH of soils.

One Ontario farmer who has used CW’s product and reports a high level of satisfaction is Jim Bennett, owner of Benacres Farm. in Elginburg. A third-generation farmer whose grandfather originally settled in the area in 1930, Bennett presently farms 600 acres. After hearing about CW’s product from a mutual acquaintance, Bennett decided to give it a try. Last fall, he spread crushed wollastonite over 200 acres where he grows hay. The results exceeded his most optimistic expectations. “I have never before seen alfalfa turn green like it did on the land where I spread the wollastonite” Bennet reports. “It quickly turned a deep, dark green that signified outstanding crop quality.”

Bennett was also very happy with the customer service provided by CW. “I found them to be excellent to deal with” he says. “They were very friendly and knowledgeable, and took the time to really understand my needs and come up with solutions that offered the best possible value.”

Perhaps the best part of all is the fact that CW can offer a great financial deal to farmers. Wollastonite would normally be sold into the horticultural market for $50 per ton, but through the partnership with UNDO Carbon CW is able to subsize 100% of the cost of the product itself. The only cost to farmers is the trucking from the mine site in Seeley’s Bay, and CW is presently offering rebates to help offset these costs.

As a satisfied customer, Bennett is happy to recommend CW to his colleagues. “I would certainly encourage other farmers to check this opportunity out” says Bennett. “I was extremely pleased with the results I achieved and plan to make even greater use of CW’s product this year.” Farmers interested in exploring this opportunity are encouraged to contact Canadian Wollastonite to discuss how they can participate. For more information, please visit the company’s website https://www.canadianwollastonite.com/carboncapture or contact Harris Ivens, Project Manager, at (613) 387 – 2734 ext. .100 or by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.