Dr. David Johnson
David is a molecular biologist conducting research for the Institute for Sustainable Agricultural Research at New Mexico State University and is an Adjunct Professor in California State University Chico’s Regenerative Agricultural Initiative. He works with local growers, Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories, Texas A&M, Arizona State University, Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Globetrotter Foundation and the Thornburg Foundation exploring paths to improve food security, reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, and increase farm and rangeland productivity and profitability through the development of beneficial soil microbial communities.
David's presentation will focus on his research, in soil microbial community structure and function, has opened a window for viewing the interdependence between plants and soil microbes. Optimization of these plant-microbe associations promotes: restoration of soil fertility, improved growth of crops, and increased efficiencies in plant water use, soil microbial carbon-use and soil carbon storage capabilities. These benefits provide a path to significantly reduce greenhouse gases while promoting market development of a new and profitable agricultural commodity (soil carbon) for growers within a regenerative agricultural system.