We already knew that composting is key for fighting climate change as one of the major forms of recycling worldwide, but new research is adding to the ever-growing list of reasons to compost. A 19-year study found that compost in agricultural use helps the soil store carbon, thereby reducing the atmospheric carbon that contributes to climate change.

This study was published in Global Change Biology. For details, we suggest reading UC Davis’s summary of the findings in their own article.

Whether you are a backyard gardener or industrial-scale farmer, compost is not only the best way to fertilize your plants, it’s also the best way to help the environment.