UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Wind and solar power and energy efficiency provide important greenhouse gas emission reduction benefits, but at best they can achieve zero emissions. With fossil fuel use continuing at excessive rates, the world needs negative carbon strategies implemented on a large scale. Tom Richard, professor of agricultural and biological engineering, will discuss how agriculture, food and forest systems can support a bioeconomy that reverses climate change during a talk at 4 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 31. The talk will take place via Zoom.

Richard is an agricultural and biological engineer whose research applies fundamental engineering science to microbial ecosystems, developing innovative strategies for a more sustainable agriculture and the emerging bio-based economy. He serves as director of Penn State’s Institutes of Energy and the Environment, directs the Northeast Regional Sun Grant Center for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is the deputy technical director for the Department of Energy’s National Risk Assessment Partnership for geologic carbon sequestration.

Richard’s talk is part of the spring 2022 EESI EarthTalks series, “Energy and Climate Policy, Part 2: Strategies for Getting to Net Zero.” The series is presented by Penn State’s Earth and Environmental Systems Institute.