Magic Mud: Danish Documentary Highlights the Power of Greenlandic Glacial Remineralization

Back row from left to right: Prof. Minik Rosing, Eliot Booth, Dr. Ali Malik, Samuel Backlund, Chrstiana Dietzen, Clive Eley. Front row: Kuupik Kleist

“Magic Mud,” a documentary produced and directed by filmmaker Jakob Gottschau, explores how Greenlandic glacial rock flour can address global agricultural and climate challenges.

Premiering at the 2024 Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival, it follows the groundbreaking research of Rock Flour Company (RFC) founder Professor Minik Rosing, University of Copenhagen, illustrating remineralization’s potential to improve soil fertility and sequester carbon dioxide.

“The documentary traces not only the scientific process but also the personal journey of Rosing and his team, as well as collaborations between the scientific community and global farmers,” said Dr. Ali Hafeez Malik, an agricultural scientist working with RFC. The film highlights the hurdles Rosing faced during his scientific journey, but leaves viewers feeling uplifted. Despite challenges, noted Malik, the film shows solutions exist — some surprisingly simple.

“The takeaway is that there’s hope, and with persistence, we can discover solutions that have a global impact on agriculture and sustainability.”

Set before the founding of RFC, the film begins with Rosing, a renowned geologist, collecting mud samples off the coast of his majestic homeland, Greenland. Throughout the documentary, researchers undertake two series of projects. The first, based in Brazil and Denmark, hits roadblocks, while the second, in Ghana and Denmark (again), achieves promising results from remineralization efforts.

According to Malik, the documentary highlights not only success stories but also lessons learned from unexpected outcomes, emphasizing resilience and adaptation in science. It showcases the dedication and long-term commitment needed for breakthroughs, such as using glacial rock flour for carbon sequestration and soil restoration, which have significant global implications.

“The documentary seeks to inspire global action on climate change and sustainable agriculture, showing how a natural, simple resource, like glacial rock flour could have far-reaching impacts on food production and environmental restoration.”

He added: “Ultimately, ‘Magic Mud’ illustrates how a small, naturally occurring material could have a profound impact on global efforts to combat climate change, enhance agricultural productivity, and improve ecosystems.”

Rock Flour Company

Founded after Rosing spent nearly a decade demonstrating the potential of glacial rock flour to remineralize soils and sequester carbon, the Rock Flour Company aims to use this naturally occurring resource to mitigate climate change and improve agricultural productivity worldwide.

Glacial rock grinding produces ultra-fine particles rich in minerals that can be used as organic fertilizers. By accelerating the natural process of rock weathering, the company’s primary project helps capture CO₂ while releasing essential nutrients into the soil. The ultra-fine particles provide a large surface area, Malik noted, allowing them to react more efficiently with carbonic acid in rainwater.

“This process binds CO₂ and locks it into the [earth] as stable bicarbonate, while also enriching soils with nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus and micronutrients. This dual function makes it an environmentally sustainable solution that can also improve crop yields, particularly in tropical and nutrient-poor soils.”

For his part, Malik is responsible for conducting global trials to document how glacial rock flour benefits different climatic zones and soil types. By understanding its dynamics in various climates, crops and soils, he added, researchers can develop a model to deploy the product in areas where it will achieve the best results in capturing carbon, boosting crop yields and improving soil health.

The company is currently developing large-scale agricultural projects in a variety of climates, particularly in warmer regions where the weathering process is faster. Researchers are actively testing the product’s efficacy in various environments, including field trials in Europe, Africa and Australia, with plans to extend trials into Asia and South America as well. “In parallel, we are also developing the supply side with permits, supply chains, et cetera.”

Collaboration Matters

Remineralize the Earth and similar organizations support RFC’s work by promoting the use of glacial rock flour and other rock powders for soil restoration and carbon sequestration, Malik suggested. They can help raise awareness and validate the science through joint projects and advocacy.

RTE has previously reported on Danish research and the work of Dr. Minik Rosing in an article titled “Good News from the North: Greenland’s Glacial Mud Could Remineralize the Tropics”.

“To advance this industry, the Rock Flour Company needs more research partnerships from academia, production scaling support from industry, government policies that favor sustainable agriculture, and funding from stakeholders to expand global impact,” he said, adding that collaborations will drive the adoption of glacial rock flour in agriculture and environmental restoration.

Farmers can access the rock flour through collaborations with the company, which aims to offer it as an eco-friendly alternative to synthetic fertilizers, he noted. As global testing continues, the company plans to scale operations, expand distribution, and form partnerships with agricultural and environmental organizations to promote and deploy glacial rock flour in agriculture and restoration. Commercial availability is expected in a few years.

Malik said: “Visibility of Rock Flour Company and Greenlandic glacial rock flour in different media will play a crucial role in spreading knowledge about the environmental and agricultural benefits of [this natural product] and may serve as a catalyst for new projects and investments in this innovative solution.”

Carter Haydu is a senior content creator for King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia. Since 2012, he also has written about the Canadian energy sector for a Calgary-based trade publication. Carter has been a journalist since 2005, with much of his reporting delving into the environmental issues facing upstream oil and gas. He has written for Remineralize the Earth since 2018.