Science
Experimental results and scientific context.
Read the Science reportCapitalize the next stage of Carbocene
$50,000 founding bridge
The bridge supports approximately six months of plant production and propagation, scientific development, field work and measurement, development of productive applications, partnerships, and the operating infrastructure required to pursue larger grants and research programs.
It also provides partial scientific and operating compensation, increasing the share of Carbocene’s capacity available for biological development, propagation, field work, measurement, and institutional development.
The $50,000 bridge is immediate capitalization for Carbocene’s next stage. It is not the full cost of a transformation program, major field program, or complete research initiative.
Read the Founding Bridge Brief (PDF)
A concise overview of Carbocene’s mission, research portfolio, six-month funding need, and proposed use of funds.
Other ways to give: Donor-advised fund Check Larger gift
Carbocene Industries is an independent 501(c)(3) public charity. Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. EIN 33-1631522.
Bridge scope: this campaign does not include repayment of founder loans and is not the full capitalization required for a transformation program, major field deployment, or the complete proposed bamboo research program.
Established work. A new scientific and field stage.
Carbocene begins with a real scientific and field record.
Patrick Mellor co-founded Living Carbon and served as its chief technology officer, leading plant-biotechnology R&D within a program that extended from plant engineering and event selection through propagation, nursery scaling, regulatory strategy, field trials, operational forestry, commercial planting, measurement, and engagement with carbon buyers and standards.
Carbocene begins from substantial biological, field, and operational capability. The predecessor program reached several-million-tree production scale across photosynthesis-enhanced hybrid-poplar events, repeatedly validated a final lead event, established replicated field experiments, advanced loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) into event selection, and crossed major transformation barriers in eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides).
Carbocene now integrates that capability to carry useful plant biotechnology from mechanism and propagation through field evidence, productive use, and long-term measurement. Continuity matters because biological systems accumulate value slowly, but continuity is infrastructure: the objective is to produce useful biological systems and measurable physical outcomes.
Some of the highest-value experimental assets may already be in the ground. Historical photosynthesis-enhanced plantings contain years of biological time that cannot be recreated quickly. Carbocene is reconstructing their provenance and present status so that surviving trees, site records, and historical measurements can support renewed longitudinal observation where rights and site access permit.
Recovering an existing multiyear field record can answer questions that would otherwise require years of new planting and waiting.
MIT Technology Review
Long-form research history.
Read the MIT Technology Review accountThe New York Times
Field milestone.
Read The New York Times reportThe operating transition
From founder-carried work to institutional capacity.
Patrick has personally carried much of Carbocene’s greenhouse, biological, and operating base. The bridge shifts more of that work into a durable nonprofit structure capable of supporting scientific collaborators, field partners, measurement, plant production, and larger research programs.
Read Patrick’s background and selected workProposed use of funds
Operating capacity for scientific and field work.
Greenhouse operation, scientific labor, material production, field preparation, administration, and relationship development are interdependent.
Greenhouse and facility operations
$12,000Lease, utilities, lighting, water, maintenance, and basic operating costs.
Scientific work and day-to-day operation
$18,750Partial six-month compensation for scientific, organizational, fundraising, and relationship-building work—not full compensation for the labor required.
Research materials and propagation
$7,500Pots, media, fertilizer, plant-care and propagation materials, greenhouse consumables, and basic construct-development expenses.
Scientific and technical support
$3,000Specialized assistance, short-term technical work, consultation, and limited laboratory or analytical services.
IP, administration, insurance, and governance
$4,500Intellectual-property preparation, nonprofit administration, insurance, accounting, compliance, and stronger organizational systems.
Scientific relationships and proposal development
$2,500Travel, proposal preparation, scientific coordination, meetings, and development of larger research awards.
Operating contingency
$1,750Unexpected plant-care, facility, administrative, or equipment needs.
What the next six months can advance
Advance biological systems toward measurable physical outcomes.
The bridge provides the connected operating capacity required to produce research material, develop technology, prepare field work, collect data, test productive applications, and build larger scientific and institutional partnerships.
- Rebuild biological inventory and propagation capacity for the licensed Deer photosynthesis-enhanced hybrid aspen platform
- Reduce dependence on personally carried greenhouse expenses and unpaid labor
- Advance ePRB design, documentation, and intellectual-property preparation
- Define and begin tractable bamboo and durable-material development where resources permit
- Improve plant, construct, experimental, and operational records
- Strengthen governance, accounting, insurance, and donor reporting
- Build scientific relationships and proposals for larger dedicated research awards
- Expand the network of scientific, field, institutional, and funding partners able to support larger programs
Ways to support
Capital at several scales can move the work forward.
Individual contributions build the operating base. Larger gifts, foundation support, institutional introductions, and separately scoped program funding can materially expand Carbocene’s scientific and field capacity.
Make a direct contribution
Unrestricted support connects greenhouse operation, research-material production, scientific labor, administration, and partnership work.
Make one consequential introduction
Introduce Carbocene directly to a philanthropist, family foundation, donor-advised fund, grant program, scientific institution, laboratory, landholder, or mission-aligned partner able to provide meaningful resources or institutional access.
Make a significant gift or fund a defined program
Carbocene welcomes significant individual gifts, foundation and family-office support, larger project funding, and scientific or industrial collaborations. Defined programs require appropriate scientific, legal, funding, and reporting terms.
Discuss institutional or program supportMerchandise
A public way to support and share the work.
Carbocene merchandise provides a modest support and public-engagement channel. Direct gifts, institutional funding, and scientific partnerships provide substantially greater capacity for research, field work, and biological development.
Donor-advised funds and checks
Give through a donor-advised fund or by check.
Recommend a grant to Carbocene Industries through your donor-advised fund using EIN 33-1631522. For the current campaign, the suggested grant purpose is “Carbocene Founding Bridge — general operating support.” Checks may also be mailed directly to the organization.
Donor-advised fund
Legal name: Carbocene Industries
EIN: 33-1631522
Federal tax status: Tax-exempt under IRC Section 501(c)(3)
Public charity classification: IRC Section 509(a)(2)
Suggested grant purpose: “Carbocene Founding Bridge — general operating support.”
After recommending a grant, please email [email protected] with the sponsoring organization, grant amount, and expected timing so Carbocene can identify and acknowledge it.
Check
Make checks payable to Carbocene Industries and mail them to:
Carbocene Industries
7046 Outlook Avenue
Oakland, CA 94605
Please include an email or mailing address if you would like a written acknowledgment.
Please email [email protected] when a donor-advised-fund grant or check has been initiated so Carbocene can identify and acknowledge it.
Gift terms: No goods or services are provided in exchange for a donor-advised-fund grant or charitable check contribution. A contribution does not provide equity, governance authority, intellectual-property ownership, research control, exclusivity, commercial rights, access to biological material, a plant, or another substantial benefit.
Nonprofit verification: Carbocene Industries is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) and is classified as a public charity under Section 509(a)(2). Its IRS determination letter is dated April 29, 2026, with exemption effective October 20, 2025. EIN: 33-1631522.
Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Verify Carbocene through the official IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search using EIN 33-1631522.
For a W-9, a copy of the IRS determination letter, documents required by a donor-advised-fund sponsoring organization, or a discussion of an appropriate gift restriction, contact Carbocene. Any restriction must be agreed before the gift is accepted.
$50,000 / six months
Capitalize Carbocene’s next stage.
Contributions support scientific, field, and operating capacity and do not confer ownership, research control, exclusivity, or commercial rights.
Charitable status: Carbocene Industries is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and a public charity under Section 509(a)(2). Donations are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. Plant stewardship placements are separately arranged and are not conditioned on making a donation.