In late 2020, after nearly 30 years of research and 4 years of construction, a one-of-a-kind engineering marvel came to life in Northern California. It was the world’s first industrial scale production to produce MDF from post-harvest rice straw - transforming waste into high-performance, climate-friendly building materials. The vision was bold: cleaner air, less deforestation, and a local solution to a global problem. But just months after commissioning, the plant went quiet. Today, the mission is unchanged - and the opportunity to revive it is more compelling than ever.

The Environmental Cost of Rice Farming

Each year, California’s rice harvest produces millions of tons of leftover straw. With no safe or scalable way to reuse it, most of it is left to rot in fields - releasing massive amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas up to 80 times more potent than CO₂. Some of it is still burned, contributing to dangerous particulate pollution. What begins as a local byproduct quickly becomes a global climate concern.

Rice straw is a challenging agricultural byproduct that has limited practical applications in its raw form. Despite being produced in massive quantities during rice harvesting, traditional uses like animal feed or bedding are minimal due to its low nutritional value and tough fibrous nature.

For rice farmers, managing straw after harvest is a significant operational and financial burden. The sheer volume of straw left behind after harvesting requires immediate attention to prepare fields for the next growing season, yet current disposal methods are either costly, time-consuming, or environmentally problematic.

Despite growing regulation and awareness, California still lacks a truly sustainable, cost-effective system for managing rice straw. Burning releases harmful particulates; decomposition emits methane - a potent greenhouse gas. Alternatives like composting or energy conversion exist in theory but fall short in scalability, efficiency, or accessibility. The absence of infrastructure leaves most farmers with environmentally harmful choices, making rice straw not just a nuisance, but a serious emission problem.

Solving Several Problems at Once

Instead of treating it as waste, we turn post-harvest rice straw into high-performance MDF - typically made from wood. This not only reduces emissions, it can reduce deforestation and significantly contribute to decarbonizing construction. It’s not about disposal. It’s about turning a problem into a solution.

For every ton of rice harvested, about one ton of rice straw remains. In California, that adds up to millions of tons annually. Without viable uses, this residue is either burned - contributing to air pollution and CO₂ - or flooded to decay, emitting methane and consuming large volumes of water. CalFibre collects this straw post-harvest and produces medium-density fiberboard (MDF) from it. Farmers avoid costly disposal, reduce emissions, and gain a potential revenue stream. Instead of a liability, crop residues become a valuable resource.

MDF is traditionally made from wood, often sourced from managed forests and transported over long distances. CalFibre’s rice-straw MDF replaces this with a locally sourced agricultural residue - avoiding deforestation and long-haul emissions. The product is formaldehyde-free and meets or exceeds the performance standards of wood-based MDF. Every panel made with straw saves trees, lowers emissions, and offers a scalable, sustainable alternative to wood in construction and manufacturing.

Rice straw is biomass - and biomass contains biogenic carbon: CO₂ that plants pull from the atmosphere as they grow. Normally, that carbon is released again during decay or combustion. CalFibre interrupts that cycle. By turning straw into MDF, its carbon is locked away - sometimes for decades. Combined with the avoidance of forest loss and methane emissions, building with fast-growing agricultural materials becomes one of the most effective and scalable forms of carbon capture and storage available today.

From Vision to Reality - and Where We Stand Today

After decades of R&D and planning, CalAg built CalPlant I - the world’s first rice straw MDF facility. Not at lab scale, but at full industrial capacity: a $400 million state-of-the-art line capable of producing 140 million square feet of MDF annually. Like many pioneering industrial ventures, the team underestimated the complexity of scaling new technology at this magnitude. COVID-19 disrupted commissioning, delayed critical systems, and added unexpected costs. In late 2022, the company entered bankruptcy. The plant remains intact. The vision stands. And the case for action has only grown stronger.

CalPlant I was designed to process 280,000 tons of rice straw annually - converting agricultural waste into formaldehyde-free MDF. The facility spans 276,000 square feet and houses a custom Siempelkamp fiberline - the only one of its kind in North America. It’s not a prototype. It’s a fully realized industrial system with all permits, utilities, and core technology in place. Years of engineering and investment created a platform ready for operation and replication.

The plant began ramp-up in late 2020, but commissioning challenges emerged early - common for new industrial-scale processes. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated delays, supply chain issues, and costs. Still, between 2021 and 2022, CalPlant shipped over 3,500 truckloads of wood-quality, wood-priced MDF to satisfied commercial customers across the U.S. The product proved itself, even if operations hadn’t yet stabilized. In late 2022, bondholders forced the company into bankruptcy before steady-state production or cash flow could be reached. Today, the plant is inactive and under private ownership—but its systems are preserved, and fix plans are ready.

The problem CalPlant was built to solve remains unchanged - and more urgent. California rice straw is still burned or flooded. Methane is still emitted. Demand for climate-smart materials is rising. With growing ESG pressure, corporate offsets, and regional supply gaps, this model is more relevant than ever. To walk away now would mean burying a solution, just steps from impact.

A Rare Opportunity for Impact and Return

CalFibre is working to acquire and restart CalPlant I. The plant is for sale. Solutions to the technical challenges have been developed. The market is in place. With key systems preserved and a reactivation plan ready, this is a rare opportunity to reclaim momentum and deliver on a solution years in the making. The foundation is solid. The potential is real. And for the right investor, it’s a confident step into climate-positive manufacturing.

CalPlant I represents over $400 million in invested value - spanning engineering, permitting, industrial construction, and commissioning. Today, this fully built, state-of-the-art facility is available for a fraction of that. Its core systems are preserved, operational knowledge is retained, and solutions to earlier technical hurdles are defined. For investors, this is not a concept or a greenfield risk. It’s a rare chance to take control of a proven, high-potential asset with significantly de-risked execution and a clear climate and commercial upside.

Before the pause, CalPlant shipped over 3,500 truckloads of MDF to satisfied customers across the U.S. The boards met market specifications, pricing expectations, and quality demands. The challenge was never the product - it was the timing of scale-up and pandemic-driven cost overruns. The market has already validated the concept. With modest capital and experienced execution, this operation is positioned to achieve steady-state production and long-term profitability.

California’s MDF demand significantly exceeds its local production, with over 60% of supply shipped in from the Southeast or overseas. CalFibre addresses that gap - offering a locally sourced, formaldehyde-free alternative that reduces emissions, logistics costs, and lead times. Demand continues to grow, driven by green building mandates, expanding furniture production, and pressure to regionalize supply chains. CalFibre stands at the intersection of climate policy, material innovation, and practical market need.

Climate action isn’t just about doing good - it opens up additional, scalable revenue streams. Each ton of avoided methane emissions qualifies for carbon offset credits, increasingly sought after by North American companies. Verified carbon revenue could generate $6 - 8M annually. On top of that, climate finance, public funding, and sustainability-linked grants can support reactivation and growth. For investors, this isn’t just about financial ROI - it’s about long-term value in the climate economy.

We Contribute Brains, Hands, Hearts and Passion

This isn’t a team chasing an idea - it’s a team that already built it. Jerry Uhland, the inventor of the rice-straw MDF process, led CalPlant I from vision to commissioning. Around him is a group of seasoned professionals with decades of experience in engineered wood, manufacturing, and sustainability. They know what worked. They know what didn’t. And they know how to get it right.
Key Areas of Strength
  • Deep experience in engineered wood manufacturing and fiberboard production
  • Strong relationships with equipment suppliers and original system manufacturers
  • Financing expertise across capital structuring, credit, and public-private partnerships
  • Established permitting and regulatory groundwork for California operations
  • Regional workforce in place, with ~50 trained employees ready to return
  • Industry connections across raw material sourcing, buyers, and carbon markets

It Takes a Village to Bring It Back

Reviving CalPlant I needs more than the team behind it - it needs you. Whether you’re an investor, policymaker, buyer, climate advocate, or simply someone who believes this solution matters, there’s a role to play. This is a rare opportunity to turn a proven concept into lasting impact. But impact only happens with commitment. If you believe this plant deserves a second life, then you already have what it takes.

We need investment

To buy back the plant, complete fixes, and restart operations, we’re looking for up to $100 million in capital. Investors, family offices, corporate players, or strategic acquirers - each can play a role. Returns are projected within 5 - 8 years. The asset is in place. The plan is ready. What’s needed now is capital and commitment.

We need political and policy support

This project aligns with climate goals, job creation, wildfire prevention, and sustainable materials policy. Support from public agencies, local government, and climate funds can help accelerate reactivation and reduce investment risk.

We need partners

Future offtake for MDF, sourcing relationships, and logistics support will strengthen operational resilience. Buyers, suppliers, and regional collaborators are key to getting CalFibre back into production and into market.

We need strategic allies

Companies or organizations aligned with circular economy, climate innovation, or sustainable building can help shape the next chapter - through sponsorship, visibility, and long-term alignment. This is a chance to be part of real impact on American soil.

We need supporters

Everyone who believes in practical, climate-positive infrastructure can help. Lend credibility, connect networks, introduce funders, share experience. It all moves the needle.

We need reach

Share the story. Talk about it. Bring attention to it. Whether you’re an influencer, journalist, or someone with an audience - your voice helps build momentum. Visibility drives action, and we need both.

Supporting Material

For those who want to dig deeper, here’s where to find supporting documents, background data, and technical details.
📄 CalFibre Opportunity (PDF) CalFibre project summary and Investor hand-out
🔗 California Rice Farming and Methane (Link) A Scientific Review of Emissions and Climate Impact

Let's Talk

Whether you're ready to get involved or just want to learn more - reach out.
We'll get back to you personally.
Alternative contact:

CalFibre LLC

1769 County Road FF

Willows, CA 95988

contact@calfibre.com