February 16, 2023

By Lynda Kiernan-Stone, Global AgInvesting Media

Galway Sustainable Capital, an impact investor that targets companies, projects, and assets that promote environmental and social resilience through locally-based solutions, has made an undisclosed investment to facilitate the acquisition of Central Coast World Farm (CCWF) and its conversion to a state-of-the-art vermicompost facility by Yield RMG. 

Every year we lose about 70 billion tons of topsoil, and what is not lost is widely degraded by chemicals. But there is a natural, low-cost answer with the power to improve soil, reduce the use of chemical inputs, and reduce land and air pollution all while reducing the amount of organic waste in landfills – and it can be found in worms. 

Located in Hollister, California, CCWF diverts organic waste from landfills to convert that waste into organic soil amendment products through a novel process using worms. 

Currently, the worm farm is producing and selling agriculture-grade premium worm castings and compost. Worm castings (basically worm poop – also called vermicast) are used in regenerative and organic agricultural production to address the complex web of challenges presented by climate change, land and water pollution, and sustainable and healthy crop production.

Vermicast has a neutral pH of 7.0 and will not burn plants, has no disagreeable odor, and releases in a slow manner due to the mucus that worms produce. Worm castings also contain a range of beneficial fungi, bacteria, and microbes, and have even indicated that they have the potential to remove toxins and heavy metals from soil. 

When applied to arable land, the castings enhance the microbiology of the soil, improve nutrient uptake efficiency, increase water retention, and improve the sequestering of carbon. Not only does this process divert waste from landfills, it displaces synthetic chemical inputs that pollute land, water, and air. 

Also headquartered in Hollister, California, Yield RMG was founded by Caleb Adams and Angus Mills, who together have nearly 30 years experience in the agriculture and waste management sectors, having launched multiple agribusinesses over the years. 

With an impressive track record behind it, Yield RMG focuses on the production and distribution of sustainable nutrients, biological inputs, the development of bio-energy projects, and the sustainable management and treatment of organic waste. 

With this investment from Galway Sustainable Capital, Yield RMG is planning a strategic expansion of CCWF that will make it one of the largest vermicomposting operations on the U.S. West Coast, supplying worm castings to commercial farming operations, agricultural product distributors, and home and garden centers across the country. 

“We value our partnership with Galway, a unique investor that is truly committed to sustainability and aligned in our objectives to grow innovative businesses like CCWF which aim to enhance farm outputs while solving interrelated environmental and social issues,” said Caleb Adams, CEO, Yield RMG. “In addition to being a strong financial partner, Galway’s team brings deep experience and a creative approach to supporting our vision and expansion plan.”

Rich Baltimore, director of investments, Galway Sustainable Capital, added, “CCWF and the pipeline of other projects being developed by Yield RMG are focused squarely on addressing some of the most urgent challenges in California’s food, water and waste management economy.”

“Yield RMG’s founders are innovative and driven with long-term, sustainable solutions and the know-how to implement them at scale. Galway is proud to partner with them and support the deployment of those solutions in California and beyond as we advance our shared goal of ensuring a more sustainable future for all.”

~ Lynda Kiernan-Stone is editor in chief with GAI Media, and is managing editor and daily contributor for Global AgInvesting’s AgInvesting Weekly News and  Agtech Intel News, as well as HighQuest Group’s Unconventional Ag. She can be reached at lkiernan-stone@globalaginvesting.com.

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