Promotion of CO2 absorption and fixation through tropical plant cultivation.
Keywords: Moringa, biochar, soil improvement, water purification, agroecology, decarbonization promotion
Moringa, a tropical plant that grows in Asia and Africa, has recently gained significant attention for its health and beauty benefits due to its high content of various nutrients. Its growth rate is remarkable; in a field of 1,600 Moringa plants cultivated in Minuma rice paddies, at least 5 tons of CO2 were absorbed within four months after germination. Moringa is a perennial tree, but it has not been widely cultivated in Japan because it cannot survive the winter. However, its leaves and seeds are harvested in large quantities, and by carbonizing the biomass after harvest, a significant amount of CO2 can be fixed. In the laboratory, we are conducting precise quantitative evaluations of carbon balance. Additionally, Moringa seeds can be used as a natural coagulant for water purification. Thus, Moringa, which has various commercialization opportunities, is not only economically valuable but also easy to utilize in corporate CSR activities, contributing to the resolution of the increasing problem of abandoned farmland. Moringa does not require artificial fertilizers or pesticides if soil moisture is adequate, leading to various research from an agroecological perspective.
- Company：埼玉大学 オープンイノベーションセンター
- Price：Other
