July/August 2025
The Almond Project puts regenerative ag to the test
California almond growers are under pressure from climate challenges, regulation and rising production costs. In response, a group of farmers and partners launched an experiment: What happens when you integrate cover crops, compost and even grazing sheep into commercial almond orchards? That experiment is called The Almond Project.
Founded in 2021, the project is a coalition that includes growers, processors, brands and technical partners. Its core aim is to test regenerative practices and gather data that support profitable and planet‑friendly almond production.
The founding partners — Treehouse California Almonds, Pacific Ag Management and White Buffalo Land Trust — have since welcomed new collaborators from across the supply chain. These include consumer brands like Simple Mills and Daily Harvest as well as service providers, soil scientists and retailers committed to long-term agricultural resilience.
“The goals of The Almond Project are strictly grower-led,” said Joe Gardiner, vice president of business development at Treehouse California Almonds. “We are identifying real issues — water, input costs, yield reductions, regulation — that are threatening family-owned farms like ours and testing to see if and how regenerative farm practices can help mitigate some of the issues we face.”
Gardiner emphasized that the work is done at a commercial scale with profitability in mind.
“Our trials are done on a ‘layered in’ approach,” said Gardiner. “We are not throwing out the grower handbook — we hope that the addition of these practices can improve the system overall.”
Testing regenerative systems
Over the past five years, researchers and growers in California’s Kern County have piloted site‑specific practices such as multispecies cover crops, compost applications and strategic animal integration. According to Gardiner, seed mixes were selected based on specific challenges in organic versus conventional blocks.
“In the organic blocks, we have always struggled with getting the trees enough nitrogen, so our focus was on a seed mix that would provide the highest amount of nitrogen fixing as possible,” said Gardiner. “For the conventional block, one goal was to improve soil structure and water infiltration, so we added a few seed types with longer tap roots.”
Climate, soil type and operational capabilities also informed those decisions. Sheep grazing has proven to be one of the most talked-about practices.
“Like most growers, the thought of incorporating sheep seemed crazy and problematic,” Gardiner said. “However, the idea of being able to sustain, even for a short time, another protein and fiber source in an almond orchard seemed interesting — not to mention the inherent microbial and nutrient benefits that sheep leave behind.”
Gardiner noted that while weed suppression benefits were modest, sheep help reduce mowing cycles. “They eliminate one to two mowings but are not a cure-all for cover crop management,” he said.
Recognition on the global stage
In May 2023, The Almond Project earned the Award for Excellence in Sustainability at the International Nut & Dried Fruit Council’s (INC) annual congress. Out of 14 global contenders, the coalition earned the “Planet” award for initiatives that defend environmental stewardship.
The award jury lauded The Almond Project as “an example of significant contributions to the environment” — a statement that resonates as growers face mounting pressure to demonstrate sustainability.
A collaborative approach
What makes The Almond Project especially notable is its collaborative structure. Unlike many farming efforts that are siloed, this project brings together a full supply‑chain lineup that includes farmers, scientists, food brands, service providers and retailers.
Officials from The Almond Project say this setup helps spread both cost and risk. According to the coalition’s website, “The financial risk of testing and adopting new practices too often falls solely on farmers. Food companies have a responsibility to share the economic burden.”
A timely shift toward resilience
The Almond Project comes at a critical moment for California agriculture. As growers face intensifying climate pressure, tighter water allocations, rising input costs and shifting regulatory demands, interest is growing in practices that build long-term orchard resilience.
Almonds are a nutrient-dense, protein-rich crop but also increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather and water limitations. By focusing on soil health, biodiversity and input efficiency, The Almond Project aims to equip growers with practical tools for adapting to environmental and economic volatility without sacrificing productivity or profitability.
What growers say
Though many results are still being analyzed at the UC Davis laboratory, growers involved are beginning to see early signs of impact. For example, Gardiner noted that dairy compost was applied in bands over the root zones, and while third-year results are pending, baseline comparisons are underway.
Reducing synthetic inputs remains a challenge.
“We think of it more as a ‘glide path down’ rather than a full turn off,” Gardiner said. “In our first year we were overly optimistic with an internal goal to decrease by 50%. The reality is that every year presents new challenges, and we have to adapt.”
Annual soil and leaf analyses continue to guide decisions.
Scaling sustainability
Now in its fourth growing season, The Almond Project is refining its research tools and outreach. The goal is to build a body of knowledge strong enough to influence common practice among almond growers and processors.
The project tracks dozens of soil health metrics, from organic carbon and microbial activity to bulk density and aggregate stability, and has already demonstrated improvements.
“So far, water infiltration and dust during the growing season are the two subjective positives we have experienced,” Gardiner said.
Looking ahead
While The Almond Project has yet to release specific data on harvest timing or yield, future phases may incorporate these operational metrics.
“It is all a coordinated effort, and it is important to understand that our goal was not to design a perfect one-size-fits-all solution,” Gardiner said. “All these practices have their own nuanced challenges.”
Sheep integration, for example, offers benefits but remains logistically difficult.
“Cover crops have shown great results for soil development and water infiltration, but they must be managed appropriately. Compost application can be tricky, especially during winter rains,” Gardiner said.
While full harvest impact data is still being evaluated, the team is focused on building a more resilient production system that supports long-term economic and environmental viability, even amid year-to-year variability.
“Our belief is that regenerative farming practices can play an important part in ensuring long-term economic and environmental sustainability,” Gardiner said. “This is not an overnight cure and just part of a larger and more complex problem growers face.”
