// Definition
High-temperature composting method where the carbon-to-nitrogen ratio is managed to heat the compost pile above 140-165 degrees Fahrenheit, destroying fungal pathogens and their spores.
// From the Episode
Standard lower-temperature composting does not destroy alternaria spores, which can persist and reinfect crops. After thermophilic composting kills everything, the pile can be reinoculated with beneficial microbes like effective microorganisms (EM), trichoderma, or bacillus.