Farmers’ Rice Cooperative (FRC) processes and markets approximately 25 percent of all of the rice grown in California. FRC is California’s largest rice marketing firm. Problem Statement: The FRC is interested in utilizing rice hulls, which are a byproduct of the rice milling value chain. Rice hulls are difficult to dispose of because of their high (~20%) silica content which is not good for burners. The FRC is looking for other ways to dispose of rice hulls (i.e. chemical digesters) or for ways to utilize rice hulls for alternative products. Potential ideas for rice hull utilization would be as garden mediums, animal bedding and compost.

Read the project brief

Read the final report