About Us
Through a transdisciplinary collaboration, UC Merced researchers and community partners developed a Compost Climate Action Plan to advance the science, education, and practice of composting in the Central Valley of California in a manner that supports community resilience, food justice, and food sovereignty.
Our Mission Statement
Our priority issue is to establish affordable, accessible, and scalable community-level composting knowledge and practices - supported by policies, collaboration, and infrastructures - to transform farm and food waste into compost to grow nutritious food, mitigate climate change, and advance social justice in the San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California.
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Our overall goal is to develop and pilot a Compost Climate Action Plan in the SJV that achieves greenhouse gas reduction, fosters adaptive agroecosystems, and is centered on social justice. We aim to promote innovative research and community-centered education, programming, and recommendations that maximize benefits and access to community-scale composting.
Facilitate community scale composting
By promoting
community level composting knowledge and practices, we can facilitate equitable organic waste management at the community scale
Advance Food and Social Justice
By advocating for policies and local initiatives that promote food equity and sustainable waste management, we can work towards more just and sustainable food systems.
Foster adaptive agroecosystems
By implementing organic waste management practices that promote soil health, we can create resilient farming systems that are better equipped to withstand environmental challenges.
Provide Access to Nutritious Food
Community composting can help create healthy, nutrient-rich soil. By using this soil amendment to grow fruits and vegetables, we can increase access to nutritious food in our communities.
