ePRB and enhanced photosynthesis
Carbocene’s independent enhanced photorespiration bypass technology is in development, with a species-flexible intention to reduce carbon lost through photorespiration and increase carbon available for growth.
Independent nonprofit biological research
Biological technology for a stable climate and durable human society
Carbocene Industries works to improve how carbon and energy move through atmosphere, plants, materials, ecosystems, and time—in support of climate stability, durable human civilization, and a regenerative approach to synthetic biology.
Living biological research needs somewhere to live. We maintain the plants, propagation lines, records, practical knowledge, and institutional continuity from which new scientific work can proceed.
Carbon, energy, and deep time
Civilization is releasing ancient carbon faster than living systems can absorb it.
Life has repeatedly altered Earth’s atmosphere through photosynthesis, respiration, decomposition, burial, weathering, and mineral processes. Human civilization is now releasing carbon and energy accumulated by life across deep time within a few generations.
This energetic expansion has enlarged human possibility while opening a planetary metabolic imbalance. The response cannot be reduced to individual austerity. It requires emissions reduction, carbon drawdown, stronger biological sequestration, and the technical and institutional feedbacks needed to regulate our effects.
Carbocene contributes a bounded part of that response through plant biology, durable materials, ecological integration, and the continuity of experimental capacity.
The connected scientific question
How can living systems integrate carbon more efficiently into growth, carry it into durable materials, and extend the time before it returns to the atmosphere?
The work follows carbon through related movements across life and time.
Bamboo biotechnology
Bamboo biotechnology connects enhanced growth rate, transformation research, tissue culture, vegetative propagation, durable culms, coloration, and long-lived construction materials.
Photosynthesis-enhanced poplar
The licensed trees carry a photosynthesis-enhancing bypass that recycles carbon otherwise lost through photorespiration. They are a living metabolic innovation and research platform for more efficient carbon integration into growth, propagation, coppicing research, breeding, and long-term biological drawdown.
Durable biological materials
Developing research connects growth with slower decomposition, resistance to fungi and insects, stable pigments or polymers, wood chemistry, and longer-lived plant-derived products.
Biochar
Biochar converts plant biomass into a more stable form of carbon, slowing its return to the atmosphere while supporting soil structure, water retention, and biological activity when appropriately prepared and used.
Biological carbon mineralization
Plants and associated microorganisms can move carbon into stable carbonate minerals through oxalate-carbonate pathways. Carbocene is examining how these biological processes could connect plant growth and soils to forms of carbon storage that persist beyond ordinary biomass.
Public biology in Oakland
Carbocene is a working home for collaborative biological research.
Carbocene is engaging in new collaborative research through its Oakland greenhouse, garden, and relationships with independent biological researchers. Counter Culture Labs is a research partner in this community-facing scientific work. Together, these settings connect propagation, plant care, biochar, experimental growing systems, biotechnology, and ecological questions through practical work.
Current campaign
Carry the Work Forward
$50,000 for six months of living research, new biological work, and institutional continuity. The bridge maintains living continuity while advancing new biological research.