US Composting Council awarded $4.4 million grant for compost application trials

The US Composting Council (USCC) has been awarded a grant of $4,400,750 as part of the USDA's 2023 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG). This investment will fund the "Comparative and Ongoing Compost Application Trials to Guide and Incentivize Best Use" project to enhance compost application practices across diverse agricultural systems.

"The compost industry has long known about the benefits of compost application on soil health and water holding capacity," said USCC Executive Director Frank Franciosi. "Whereas good data does exist to support these claims, more data, guidance, and information dissemination will bolster the compost industry and compost use. Soil health is a key component of the US Composting Council's mission and we are emboldened by this dedication of funds to assist with solidifying compost's connection to conserving our soil."

The US Composting Council will lead this initiative in collaboration with researchers and implementation partners across California, Colorado, and Washington. The project will conduct 88 soil health demonstration (SHD) trials to evaluate the environmental, economic, and social benefits of compost application. These trials will take place across various soil types, compost types/rates, and production systems.

Key objectives of the project include:

• Assessing the impact of compost on soil carbon, water-holding capacity, and overall soil health.
• Developing accessible compost application guidance for producers and technical assistance providers.
• Informing potential updates to the NRCS guidance related to Conservation Practice Standard 336.
• Providing interoperable data to improve the DayCent and MEMS models.

Through these comprehensive trials, the USCC aims to demonstrate the agronomic, social, and environmental benefits of compost, guiding best practices and incentivizing wider adoption of compost use in agriculture.

The grant will be carried out with partners Anthony Myint, Zero Foodprint, Dr. Jessica Chiartas, Soil Life Sciences, Jeff Borum JAIDE Conservation Collective, Dr. Sally Brown, University of Washington, Shawn Bruckman, Eagle County Conservation District, Dr. Sarah Light, PhD/UCCE, Sutter-Yuba UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE), Michael Lufkin, King County, WA, Dr. Megan Machmuller, Colorado State University, Thelma Velez/Organic Farming and Research Foundation, and the Compost Research and Education Foundation.