WHAT WE DO

We conduct practical research to develop more effective tools and methods,

then support the application of these innovations in the real world.

We focus on addressing the climate crisis in two areas of national priority:

Community Composting

We're exploring tools and methods to make community composting more efficient, effective, and profitable.

Composting Methodology

Identify and develop composting methods that:

improve the quality of the compost being produced, which enables regenerative farms to produce more nutritious food and enables rangelands to sequester more carbon and improve productivity;
produce customized compost that meets the needs of the soil on a farm or ranch (based on laboratory soil testing);
support the long-term financial viability of community composting, (e.g, by simplifying the process and reducing costs).

Collaborate to Accellerate Progress

Work with composters, farmers, ranchers, and other stakeholders to adapt and implement new tools and methodologies:

facilitate collaborations to generate ideas, share experiences, and participate in the development of new tools and methodologies;
conduct field trials to refine tools and methodologies;
work with composters, farmers, and ranchers to identify funding and other resources to support them in implementing new tools and methodologies.

Regenerative Agriculture

Quality compost, especially when custom-produced to match the tested requirements of soil on a farm or ranch, can have remarkable impacts. It can improve soil health, increase crop yields and rangeland productivity, and produce more nutritious food. It also reduces the need for chemical fertilizers and pesticides, avoiding contamination of America's soil and waterways. Regenerative agriculture also increases carbon sequestration in soil. We work to increase the quality, availability, and use of quality compost to support regenerative farming and ranching.

Regenerative Agriculture Methods

Identify and develop methods to economically utilize high-quality compost on the farm/ranch to make regenerative agriculture more viable.

Increase crop yields and rangeland productivity.
Produce food that is more valuable to purchasers (greater nutrient content, more robust in appearance and flavor).

Carbon Sequestration

Work with composters, farmers, ranchers, and other stakeholders to increase and document the amount of carbon sequestered using regenerative agriculture methods.

Research and develop practices using specialty-formulated compost to significantly increase the amount of carbon sequestered in the soil.
Utilize respected testing and verification methods to quantify and report increased carbon sequestration.

Testing and Verification

In our work to support community composting and regenerative agriculture, we utilize rigorous protocols for testing and verification. For example:

Testing the results of a control/baseline vs. the results using enhanced tools and methodologies.
Multi-method and multi-site testing and comparative analysis.
Utilizing a variety of laboratory testing methods including mass spectrometry, microscopy, DNA analysis, and so forth.

We use certified laboratories to test compost that meets quality standards, including

OMRI - Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) to ensure compliance with standards of the USDA National Organic Program (NOP)
STA - United States Composting Council's (USCC) Seal of Testing Assurance

Education and Dissemination

Many national and local organizations have excellent educational programs in place to disseminate information regarding community composting and regenerative farming. Our role is to partner with existing organizations to:

develop educational materials and presentations that support the application of our research in the real world,
support educational programs for use by a wide range of audiences, including community composters, farmers and gardeners, professional and trade organizations, public agencies, higher education, schools, and community groups.

THE NEED

The Climate Crisis

The U.S. and the U.N. have set a target of holding global warming to 1.5° centigrade. Beyond that, the impacts of climate change will be catastrophic and irreversible. But we are behind in reaching that goal.

We have one chance to achieve 1.5°. We must slash greenhouse gasses in half by 2030, and then stop adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere altogether by 2050. Keeping food waste out of landfills and applying compost in farms and gardens are simple things we can do RIGHT NOW to help achieve these goals.

Food Waste and Methane

The U.S. generates more food waste than any other country – 3,000 pounds per second. It is the most common material going into our landfills.

As it rots in the landfill, food waste produces methane -- a powerful greenhouse gas, more potent that carbon dioxide, and a significant contributor to global warming.

The U.S. has set a goal of reducing food waste by 50% by 2030.

Meet Our Founder

Bridgett Luther is the former Director of the California Department of Conservation, where she scaled up the world's largest recycling program. She directed a staff of 750 with a budget of $1.2 billion. She then co-founded the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, which scaled the open-source Cradle to Cradle Certified® product standard. Bridgett established an ongoing multi-stakeholder refinement process and persuaded hundreds of the world’s leading manufacturers to adopt the certification standards. Cradle to Cradle certification has become a keystone of the Circular Economy.

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