Work in Progress

Magic Mud

A radical idea might strengthen sustainable agriculture, and at the same time help to reduce climate change

Back in 2015, professor in geology Minik Rosing became aware that the millions of tons of glacial rock flour produced by the ice sheet each year might be an effective soil improver – especially on nutrient-poor tropical soils.  Minik Rosing launches a comprehensive research program to test the idea. 

The film follows the long and sometimes strenuous research process from laboratory experiments over field experiments in Denmark and Ghana.  The research process has major ups and downs. The Danish experiments culminate in Carlsberg’s barley test fields, where the head of the company’s research is caught with total surprise because the flour has caused a yield increase up to 30%.  He exclaims spontaneously: “This is completely crazy, completely crazy”. 

Besides the research process, Minik Rosing’s “universe” unfolds:  His personal experiments with adding rock flour to potato and radish in his beautiful garden at Ledreborg Castle. His trip deep in the Nuuk Fjord, looking at landscapes – and rock flour.  And about Minik Rosing’s collaboration with the famous artist Olafur Eliasson.

The film will also document his trip to Ghana, where he will meet researchers and poor farmers.

It’s a story about a scientist who is searching for a constructive answer to important global challenges. The intention of the film is to provide a basic understanding of both the complexity of the global challenges, but also how complicated it is to find relevant solutions.

To be completed in january 2024