Organic Waste

This year CSANR sponsored registration for several WSU students to attend the Tilth Conference.  We will post reflections written by the students over the next several weeks. Please feel free to comment and give these students your feedback.

Khalid Almesfer head shot
Khalid Almesfer

My name is Khalid Almesfer, and I have a Master’s Degree in Soil Science. Now, I am PhD student in Soil Science at Washington State University (WSU).I watched how desertification and pollution were affecting agricultural land in my country (Saudi Arabia) and I decided to study soil science (soil chemistry) as a major in college. I had always felt that I was inclined to this kind of study. In addition to this, I found that there is a growing need for specialists in this field who could implement and advance scientific skills in soil chemistry, which is very important in my country, which is witnessing an accelerated development in all agricultural sectors.  I also participated in different research projects including a survey on soil resources and water quality evaluation in Southern Tihama plains, Saudi Arabia in 2004-2008, and an integrated survey for natural forests in the western and southwestern regions of Saudi Arabia in 2000-2003. I participated in a study on evaluation of soil pollution around Mahad AD’ Dahab Mine and also participated in a baseline of secondary treated sanitary waste-water irrigation at Al-Kafji Joint Operation, and in the evaluation of pollutants in agricultural soils, together with evaluation of soil degradation (features and causes) in some irrigated agricultural soils in Saudi Arabia.

I attended the Tilth Conference for the first time this November in Vancouver, WA and attending this event provided the opportunity for me to communicate with experts and other professionals. I learned a lot from the workshops presented.

The Tilth conference was a diverse event and a wonderful experience that contained many quality sessions in which to participate. I concentrated on attending “Seminars & Workshops for Sustainable Systems” and “Tips Tools for Improved Production,” and though I cannot write about everything I attended, I’ll say that a session I particularly enjoyed was, “Fueling the Farm with Local Organic Waste.” The speakers for the session were Andrew Corbin, Impact Bioenergy and Kyong Soh, Tilth Alliance. Impact Bioenergy’s living system works to convert food waste into renewable energy (natural gas) and liquid soil amendment (digestate) with zero waste.

I am very glad for this opportunity and it was such an honor to be able to attend this conference. I highly appreciate the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS).