CMI Orchards, a major tree fruit supplier based in Washington State (USA), has articulated a comprehensive regenerative agriculture strategy that integrates biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More production as part of its soil amendmentA soil amendment is any material added to the soil to enhance its physical or chemical properties, improving its suitability for plant growth. Biochar is considered a soil amendment as it can improve soil structure, water retention, nutrient availability, and microbial activity.   More and carbon management goals. The company’s CMI SOARS (Sustainable Orchards and Regenerative Solutions) platform now coordinates multiple practices — including the development of The Soil Center, carbon credit generation, and regenerative soil amendments — to reduce emissions, sequester carbon, and support supply-chain sustainability. The initiative is part of a broader commitment to measurable environmental outcomes and soil health improvements that resonate throughout CMI’s global supply network.

A key challenge addressed by CMI’s initiative is the need to transform traditional orchard waste practices and greenhouse gas impacts into a measurable regenerative system. Previously, orchard and agricultural byproducts such as removed tree wood, culled fruit, and similar organic materials were often burned or otherwise underutilized, releasing carbon and contributing to emissions. Additionally, growers face pressure to improve soil health while maintaining productivity and operational efficiency. This systemic challenge — turning organic waste streams into net environmental benefit while quantifying impacts — is central to CMI’s strategic focus.

CMI’s response has been to institutionalize a set of practices designed to close nutrient and carbon loops across its operations. Central to this is The Soil Center, a facility being built with partner Royal Family Farming that will upcycle more than 100,000 tons of biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More each year into carbon-rich soil amendments through integrated biochar reactors, composting, and vermicomposting systems. Three biochar reactors at the facility are expected to generate thousands of tons of stable biochar annually, which can be returned to soil to improve structure, moisture retention, and nutrient availability while sequestering long-term carbon. The CMI SOARS framework adds transparency and tracking to greenhouse gas inventories and carbon inset opportunities for supply-chain partners.

Early outcomes from these efforts include the generation of verified carbon credits, increased availability of regenerative soil products for growers, and enhanced control over carbon reporting across the supply chain. By linking biochar production with measurable climate outcomes and soil performance, CMI’s model demonstrates how agricultural enterprises can integrate biochar into broader regenerative systems with both environmental and commercial value. As operations scale, the impacts on carbon sequestration and soil health will provide additional data for future industry benchmarking.