Promotion of CO2 absorption and fixation through tropical plant cultivation.
Social Infrastructure (Saitama University Research Seed Collection 2025-27 p.5)
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.
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Takeshi Fujino, Professor Graduate School of Science and Technology, Department of Environmental Social Infrastructure, Field of Environmental Science 【Recent Research Themes】 ● Development of a system for the aggregation and floating treatment of algal blooms using electrolysis ● Assessment of aquatic organism contamination using heavy metal fluorescent probes ● Prediction of the number of heat stroke patients transported during summer using neural networks ● Environmental management of the natural habitats of Tajimagahara primrose and Hōzōji-numa Utricularia
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【Appeal Points to the Industry】 ● This activity is conducted in collaboration with a limited liability company in Saitama City as part of the "Saitama Green Infrastructure SDGs Research Group (Representative: Takeshi Fujino)" established by the Saitama University Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Council. In February 2024, we signed a five-year agreement with the city to implement the "Minuma Rice Field Green Carbon Project" on public land. The harvested products are sold and provided as supplements and moringa pasta, with participation from various companies and organizations. 【Examples of Practical Application, Utilization, and Case Studies】 ● Support for water quality and soil quality analysis from basic to applied levels (e.g., contributed to solving incidents and received a letter of appreciation from the Kawagoe Police Station in 2021, bacterial load testing of wastewater from food processing plants using RT-PCR method in 2023). ● As the program leader for "Application and Integration of Science and Technology in the Global Environment (Master's Program)," we envision a future society in collaboration with the industry (2022 - present). ● Joint research with private companies has expanded into NEDO's technology innovation project (high-efficiency generation and long-term stable supply of high-quality aqueous gas through automatic control of biomass two-stage gasification equipment, 2015).
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Moringa stem chips produced in large quantities after the harvest of leaves.
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The Saitama University Open Innovation Center is a center that functions as a liaison office for industry-academia-government collaboration. It consists of three departments: the Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Department, the Intellectual Property Department, and the Startup Support Department, each staffed with coordinators well-versed in various fields. The center's activities include solving technical challenges in companies, supporting the implementation of joint research, and conducting technology transfer aimed at introducing and utilizing Saitama University's intellectual property.