Dr Hadee Thompson Morrison: Breaking the wall of nitrous oxide emissions

Dr Hadee Thompson-Morrison  
Bioeconomy Science Institute 

Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is the most potent naturally occurring greenhouse gas, and New Zealand’s emissions have significantly increased – by 46% since 1990. We have identified the overlooked primary driver of N₂O emissions from soils: low bioavailable copper. We will develop new biotechnology that stimulates the activity of pre-existing soil bacteria to increase copper bioavailability from existing soil stores, reducing N₂O emissions.

Hadee Thompson-Morrison is a Researcher in Soil Chemistry at the Bioeconomy Science Institute, where she is leading novel research to mitigate the climate-change impacts of our agricultural systems. She specialises in trace-element chemistry – an often overlooked, yet crucial contributor to many environmental processes. She has a strong background in environmental management and soil science, and hopes that her collaborative research will improve the environmental sustainability of New Zealand’s primary production, and preserve our precious soil resources.