Modern Farmer

MARCH 1, 2024

Cheap and easy to make, it’s still the fastest-growing group of fibers used to manufacture garments. The polymer can yield various end products depending on the twisting of yarns. The difficulty, and the stage most of these startups are now, is in scaling manufacturing. What’s the solution? Photo courtesy of Spiber Inc.)

Textiles 101

Textiles Manufacturing Production Processing 101

Civil Eats

APRIL 29, 2024

He plants nitrogen-rich legumes and other perennial cover crops amongst his pear, apple, plum, peach, and cherry trees, but he buys a commercial compost product to keep his 100-acre, fourth-generation family farm thriving. Ela knows first-hand how central compost is to his organic farm—and all organic agriculture.

Compost 99

Compost Manufacturing Food Production 99

Civil Eats

DECEMBER 4, 2023

These synthetic polymer products have often been used to help boost yields up to 60 percent and make water and pesticide use more efficient. As contamination rose, crop yields fell by 15 percent. And the single-use product is neither recyclable nor reusable, requiring seasonal retrieval and disposal.

Agriculture 121

Agriculture Agriculture Supply Chain Production 121