Simple Mills, Daily Harvest, and Cappello’s announced The Almond Project – a multi-year, farmer-led partnership to make almond farming more sustainable by implementing and evaluating the outcome of regenerative soil health principles. The program will leverage the expertise of third-generation growers at Treehouse California Almonds to lead soil health research in California’s Central Valley that will help pave the way towards a more prosperous, resilient future for almonds.
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The climate crisis poses a dire threat to almonds and the people who grow them – especially in California, which supplies 80 percent of the world’s almonds. Mounting evidence suggests that soil health is key to the long-term viability of all food crops, but practical research remains sparse and the financial risk of adopting these practices often falls solely on farmers.
“If we want to abate the effects of climate change, safeguard farmer livelihoods, and continue to enjoy the nutritional benefits of almonds, we must build a more resilient food system,” said Rachel Drori, Founder and CEO of Daily Harvest. “Daily Harvest looks forward to delivering on our mission to reimagine the food system through The Almond Project.”
Over the next five years, The Almond Project partners will work with growers to integrate a variety of soil health practices on two 80-acre blocks of farmland – one conventional and one organic. Simple Mills and Daily Harvest, in partnership with Treehouse California Almonds and White Buffalo Land Trust – a 501(c)(3) nonprofit practicing, promoting, and developing systems of regenerative agriculture, are supporting farmers in the adoption of regenerative principles. These practices, which include cover cropping, animal integration, composting and the reduction of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, aim to improve natural soil fertility, sequester carbon, conserve water, and increase biodiversity.
The Almond Project partners will measure outcomes such as soil health, water infiltration, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem biodiversity in comparison to neighboring baselines. The group will share learnings with other almond farmers in the region to assist in the implementation of soil health practices on additional acreage of farmland.
“At Simple Mills, we are committed to advancing the holistic health of people and the planet – and that starts with how we grow our food,” said Katlin Smith, Founder and CEO of Simple Mills. “Almonds are a nutrient-dense powerhouse that have always been an integral part of our portfolio and we’re thrilled to be a part of this groundbreaking partnership to reimagine almond farming now and for generations to come.”