Orange waste dumped in 1998 helped Costa Rica forest grow 176% in biomass

In 1998, around 12,000 metric tonnes of orange peels and pulp were deposited on a degraded pasture in Costa Rica as part of an experimental forest restoration effort. The organic waste was intended to test whether agricultural byproducts could help revive barren land. Sixteen years later, researchers returned to assess the site and found it had transformed into a thriving, dense forest. The area showed significantly richer soil quality, greater diversity of tree species, and a 176% increase in aboveground biomass compared to its earlier state.