A collaborative effort between CMI Orchards and Royal Family Farming has culminated in the formation of The Soil Center (TSC), a joint venture focused on enhancing agricultural sustainability. Scheduled to break ground this spring, TSC aims to transform agricultural byproducts from various sectors, including orchards, row crops, dairy, and beef, into valuable carbon-rich soil amendments. This initiative seeks to reduce reliance on synthetic inputs while fostering robust crop production.

Key to TSC’s operations will be 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 reactors capable of processing over 20,000 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 annually into biochar. Complementary practices such as vermicomposting will further upcycle organic waste into products like garden soil, compost, worm castings, and biochar. Notably, CMI Orchards has committed to a zero-burn policy for removed tree wood, integrating it into Royal Family Farming’s vermicomposting operations.

TSC anticipates processing over 100,000 tons of diverse organic waste streams annually. The projected output of 20,000 tons of biochar is estimated to sequester 25,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. The facility is also pursuing Direct Environmental Benefits (DEB) status under Washington’s Cap and Invest program to validate its carbon credits.

The soil amendments generated will initially supply CMI growers, with plans for broader distribution. Both CMI and RFF demonstrated their commitment to regenerative agriculture as Gold Sponsors of the recent North America Regenerative Agriculture Summit, where they led discussions on commercial-scale implementation. CMI Orchards has also appointed Rose Vejvoda as sustainability manager to further these efforts.

LEARN MORE: Update on regenerative agriculture advancements