Researchers at the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Environment are collaborating with Maple Ridge Acres, an alpaca farm in Ontario, to tackle waste management and soil health challenges. Frances Stewart, the farm’s owner, sought help to repurpose alpaca waste fiber and manure—materials often discarded or burned—into something beneficial for the environment.

The project, led by Dr. Maren Oelbermann and her Soil Ecosystem Dynamics Research Group, aims to create an innovative compost blend by combining alpaca waste with 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. Biochar is known for enhancing soil fertility and sequestering carbon, making it a natural fit for sustainable agriculture.

The researchers are testing various ratios of waste fiber, manure, and biochar to develop a compost that improves soil structure, boosts nutrient content, and serves as an eco-friendly alternative to chemical fertilizers. Augustine Kwame Osei, a post-doctoral fellow on the team, highlighted the local focus of the project, which includes sourcing biochar from Bella Biochar, Ontario’s only commercial-scale producer of certified organic biochar.

This partnership exemplifies the Faculty of Environment’s commitment to innovative, community-focused research, as outlined in its Environment 2035 strategic plan. The team hopes to finalize three compost formulations by spring and test them on the farm, with soil impact results expected in the fall.

If successful, this project could provide farmers with sustainable tools to improve crop yields, reduce agricultural waste, and lower farming’s climate impact.

PRESS RELEASE: Giving alpaca waste new life: Researchers combine alpaca waste with biochar to design a new compost that helps people and the planet