Aug 3, 2021Almond Alliance commends Rep. Harder for FARM Act funding move
The Almond Alliance of California on Aug. 3 commended Rep. Josh Harder (C-10) for including funding to support 10 nationwide pilot programs to convert tree nut byproducts into biocarbon products in the Future of Agricultural Resiliency and Modernization (FARM) Act.
Almond Alliance President Elaine Trevino explained that in California the funding will help accelerate efforts to develop new biofuels or other biocarbon products derived from almond harvest byproducts. For example, in a process called “pyrolysis,” almond harvest byproducts can produce biochar, a soil amendment with excellent carbon sequestration potential, and syngas and bio-oils, which can be used directly to fire furnaces or, more importantly, as inputs to produce motor vehicle biofuels and other biochemicals.
Trevino commented, “California’s almond growers are proud to be innovators who remain focused on sustainability and are constantly looking to put everything we grow to its highest and best use. We expect that biofuels produced using California Grown almond byproducts will become a major contributor towards meeting California’s carbon neutral goals. We appreciate Congressman Harder’s ongoing support of almond growers and especially his inclusion of funding for pilot projects in the FARM Act that will catalyze development of climate-friendly biocarbon and biofuel products.”
