The US Composting Council (USCC) and the US Biochar Initiative (USBI) have announced the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to establish a formal partnership. This collaboration aims to enhance soil health, water quality, and sustainability through the combined use of compost and biochar.
According to a joint statement, the partnership is designed to leverage the strengths of both organizations in achieving shared environmental goals.
The USCC-USBI Partnership is built on the following shared goals:
- Improve plant health through compost and biochar use as soil amendments;
- Improve soil structure through compost and biochar use as soil amendments;
- Improve water quality and water conservation through biochar and compost use as soil amendments;
- Reduce soil erosion with biochar and compost use as soil amendments;
- Dispose of and use plant waste through the composting and biochar processes to reduce odor, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, sequester carbon, and create valuable materials;
- Promoting the value of biochar and composting to assist in the development of sustainable communities.
The programs to be initiated through this Partnership are based on a spirit of cooperation, reciprocity, and mutual benefit to both parties.
USCC and USBI wish to seek out opportunities to cross-promote initiatives and campaigns that raise public awareness and inspire individuals and agree to professional exchanges in various policy, education, and research opportunities.
Established in 1990, the USCC is the only national organization in the United States dedicated to the development, expansion, and promotion of the composting industry.
A partnership with USBI is a natural fit for the USCC as Compost and Biochar are excellent partner products to improve porosity, increase organic matter, and conserve water. This partnership will bolster our mission of promoting composting as an integral component of soil health and organics recycling, said Frank Franciosi, Executive Director of the USCC.
Launched in 2009, the USBI is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the sustainable production and use of biochar in North America through research, policy, technology, and practical implementation.
This partnership with USCC creates a significant biochar market development opportunity, with the potential for composters to integrate biochar into their operations, both by producing biochar as a waste management tool and by using biochar to improve the composting process and the quality of the final product. By combining our strengths, we hope to drive large-scale advancements in soil health and carbon sequestration, unlocking substantial growth potential for both industries while benefiting farmers and the environment said Myles Gray, USBI Program Director.
