Building up organic material circulation system among urban and rural area: Toward the integration of local perception and scientific knowledge

Progress and Results (2024 Year)

　

Research purpose and content

1.    Executive summary 

 

Please describe the following concretely and clearly.
1) Objectives and background

 

This research project aims to establish organic circulation system between urban and rural areas on the earth by returning organic waste and its nutrients accumulated in urban areas to rural areas. This linkage enables to the restore the livelihood infrastructure, especially agriculture and pastoralism, and the rehabilitate the degraded lands. In the ecology, biomass is measured by ‘standing crop’ and refers to the weight of plants and animals, including agricultural products used for food, clothing, and industrial products, wood for building material and fuel, and resource crops for fuel such as bioethanol and biodiesel. These organic resources are discharged after use in the form of food scrap, human waste, sewage sludge, and wood waste.

 

In the dialogue of COP29 (Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), nations are required to decarbonize their economies to zero emissions of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases and transit to a carbon-neutral society. However, this is not an easy task for global societies, due to the complex interplay of issues such as food security, poverty mitigation, resource development, and economic growth. In this research project, based on the current economic and social systems in Japan, we believe that a carbon-neutral society requires a shift away from combustion. We plan to promote the shift from waste incineration to treatment by decomposition. In sub-Sahara Africa nations, we contribute to valorisation of organic waste and the good use for the land restoration and livelihood infrastructure, and for the maintenance of agricultural productivity.

 

We will study the economic situation, food situation, local values of organic waste and its use in each region (Japan and sub-Saharan Africa) and conduct scientific research from the viewpoints of environmental and ecological sustainability, economic sustainability, and health and sanitation sustainability. The goal is to create a new value of organic waste and to build a sustainable society. At the start of the FR in April 2024, we had included two Southeast Asia (Laos and Malaysia) as research targets, but it became difficult for the joint researchers to continue their research. After consultation with Program Director, Professor Matsuda, we decided to focus mainly on Japan and sub-Saharan Africa. In the next fiscal year (FY2025), we are preparing to add the Republic of Djibouti in East Africa as a research target.

 

2)    How does the research contribute to the solution of the global environmental problems?

 

Earth’s soil resources are limited, and its thickness varies with climate zones and land use. The world population that is expected to exceed 10 billion by 2050, will need to survive by producing food from this limited soil. Concerns that food production will not be able to keep up with demand, is in part, due to overuse of land and soil erosion caused by agriculture and livestock (FAO 2019). The food that humankind consumes needs to be clean, and the organic waste and manure that we throw away is abhorred by its filth. Sadly, the dogma of hygiene that humanity has developed based on science has prevented it from successfully positioning itself within the global system. For urban-based civilization to achieve sustainability in the future, it is necessary to accept the human nature, which produces filth from cleanliness, and to understand the importance of the material cycle and the rebirth of life, which produces cleanliness from filth. A shift in our thinking and values is necessary to position our existence within the Earth system.

 

In the UK and the USA, sewage sludge after treatment is no longer called ‘sewage sludge’ but is called ‘biosolid’ and used for agricultural purposes. In Japan and sub-Saharan Africa, we are working on the construction of organic circulation between urban and rural areas by combining the multi-layered scales of agroecosystems in farming systems in national, regional, and global material cycles. Through the valorisation of organic waste and the transformation of our consciousness, we hope to contribute to the transformation of modern society and its sustainability.

 

3)    Methodology, structure and schedule

 

In this research project, Japan and Africa (Niger, Zambia, Ghana, and Uganda) are the main target countries, and Djibouti will be added to the list in the next fiscal year 2025. In considering the current status of organic material circulation and the establishment of a circulation system, it is necessary to integrate the following levels: 1) Households and rural cultivated lands as units of production, 2) Regions (municipalities) as units of cities and watersheds, 3) Nations as units of import/export, and 4) Global level. We need to consider the concept of rescaling the regional scale in conjunction with the political and economic systems of the region and the era, aiming to create a sustainable society. The research topics are: 1) Analyse the current status of the material cycle of organic resources in the farmlands, rural villages, regions and the world; 2) Clarify the decomposition mechanism of organic waste and establish its safety; and 3) Creating new networks and values for the establishment of the organic material cycle. We do not intend to organize independent research groups for each region, but analyse comprehensively the material cycle in both rural and urban areas. The required material cycle in each region is different according to the economic and social situation of cities, and we will jointly construct a material cycle system that can be a good practice from both regional and global perspectives.

 

[1] Analysis of Current Status on Material Circulation of Organic Resources

 

1-1 Material Circulation in Agroecosystems: We describe agricultural practices, arable ecosystems, and urban-rural agricultural product distribution in Japan and sub-Saharan　Africa. The main subjects are paddy rice cultivation and livestock production in Japan, and modern farming systems including slash-and-burn, agro-pastoral complex, and horticultural crops in sub-Saharan Africa. We will also investigate the consumption patterns of farmers, and clarify the regional and global agricultural product distribution systems and the volume of agricultural products distributed with statistical data, etc. We will also focus on fertilizer application techniques in rural areas, analysing the actual use of materials such as chemical fertilizers, livestock manure, and compost. We will clarify the awareness and values of organic waste and examine breakthroughs to promote the biomass resources cycle.

 

1-2 Urban Waste Management and Biomass Resource Accumulation: Investigate waste generation, treatment, and sanitation in Japanese and sub-Saharan African cities, dividing them into human waste, sewage, and other wastes. The survey will examine the types and weights of household waste, as well as collection and disposal methods. In Japan, we will focus on disposers and sewage treatment in the urban centres of Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, as well as on the treatment of food waste and sewage sludge, and clarify the treatment process, especially decomposition, and the challenges for agricultural use. In Sub-Saharan Africa, waste segregation is not so common, and open dumping - landfilling of garbage by piling in the open - is the mainstream. The research will examine the challenges and measures for agricultural utilization of organic waste such as household waste and sewage sludge and for restoration of livelihood infrastructure. The study will also refer to cases in the USA and Europe, where composting is becoming mandatory.

 

1-3 Material Circulation around Import/Export of Agricultural Products (Calculation of Virtual Nutrition): Creating Virtual Nutrition Map (VNP) using FAO's data on import/export of agricultural products (FAOSTAT) and other data. With the help of the Virtual Water (VW) concept, this project will produce two unique types of VNP maps, showing nutrient transfer balances for 196 countries. One map for 1) Quantity of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphate and potassium, etc.) that importing countries collect from all over the world and accumulate in their own land, and second map for; 2) Necessary amount of nutrients for the importing countries in assumption that they produce themselves.

 

[2] Elucidation of Decomposition Mechanisms of Organic Wastes and Verification of their Safety

 

2-1 Analysis of Greening and Crop Productivity by Application of Organic Wastes: Field experiments will be conducted in crop fields in Japan and sub-Saharan in Africa. Experiments will verify the effects of applying organic wastes such as household wastes, wood wastes, and sewage sludge on soil properties, crop yield, and environmental restoration in the degraded lands.

 

2-2 Evaluation of Decomposition Mechanism of Organic Wastes: The decomposition process and mineralization process (in experiment 2-1) will be examined together with the physical, biological, and chemical properties of the soil, as well as climatic conditions. We will also measure the CO₂ flux on the soil surface to determine the CO₂ emission/absorption effects of organic waste input and revegetation, as well as the amount of carbon storage in the soil, to elucidate the effects of greenhouse gas control.

 

2-3 Verification of Safety of Agricultural Use of Organic Waste: Organic waste generated in cities, especially sewage sludge, contains heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and chromium, and there is strong concern in each region about the hazards. EDX (X-ray fluorescence analyser), removal and dilution technologies for hazardous substances will be developed to eliminate health risks and improve the acceptability of organic waste for agricultural use by local residents.

 

[3] Creation of New Values and Social Development towards the Establishment of an Organic Material Circulation System

 

We will conduct experiments on the land restoration and the improvement of agricultural and pastoral livelihoods through the transfer of organic materials from urban to rural areas. We will produce manuals on how to improve agricultural production and restore degraded land using organic waste in accordance with the actual conditions in each region. Based on the results of our research and the consensus of the local population, we hope to raise awareness, promote valorisation by changing the values of organic waste from "dirty, dangerous and harmful", and propose the social conditions necessary for the establishment of an organic material circulation system based on decomposition.

 

3-1 Development of Waterless Dry Composting Technology: Establish dry composting technology that can process kitchen garbage and return nutrients to the soil using materials locally available in simple methods. We are developing a technology to promote decomposition without producing odours. With the cooperation of Westin Miyako Hotel Kyoto, we continue to process and monitor organic waste.

 

3-2 Composting and Environmental Education Using Animal Dung from Kyoto City Zoo Waterless dry composting process can efficiently decompose organic waste by using animal dung. We are observing the decomposition process of animal dung and organic waste from nine species, including Asian elephants, zebras, giraffes, tigers, chimpanzees and gorillas with the Zoo. In the future, a method of making mini compost using animal dung and for environmental education will be developed.

 

3-3 Pig Farming and Composting Using Organic Residues in Zambia and Uganda: In Zambia and Uganda, there is serious soil degradation caused by modern farming methods using chemical fertilizer and herbicide. Pigs can be raised with the organic residues as feed, and their dung can be used to produce manure by dry composting and improve the soil. We plan to make business model of piggery and valorization of organic waste for mitigating the poverty.

 

3-4 Organic Cacao Farming using waterless dry compost in Ghana: Cacao production is a key industry in Ghana, but old trees are not being renewed. Currently, chemical fertilizer and antimicrobials are used extensively. We plan to grow organic cacao using urban organic waste.

 

3-5 Providing Integrated Learning Classes and Creating Manuals for Elementary Schools: Based on an agreement between RIHN and the Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education, we are providing integrated learning and exploration classes at four elementary schools and one special support school.

 

4)    Expected results

 

The expected results of this research project are: 1) to visualize the major environmental burden to ecosystems and material cycles caused by the existence of huge cities and the import/export of food in various regions; 2) to show that utilization of organic waste from urban areas can help to restore tropical forests, green degraded land as a measure against desertification, and improve agricultural production; and to create guidelines and manuals for that purpose, and to promote a change in values; and 3) to review our lifestyle and promote the development of urban infrastructure based on the premise that organic waste can be used for agriculture and land regeneration.

 

5)    Project organization and membership

 

The number of research participants during the transition to FR was 18, with the addition of three researchers, a total of 21. Later, two more researchers, Shimada and Asakura, were added in preparation for making Djibouti a research target country. Focusing on the circulation of organic matter between urban and rural areas is an unprecedented perspective on environmental problems such as desertification, destruction of tropical forests, and the emergence of degraded lands due to agriculture. In order to promote a common understanding among the members, the researchers will proceed with their research without division into groups based on their expertise or country. The team is composed of researchers who can understand the status of urban organic waste in Japan and Africa and implement the system in the society to convert waste into resource.

 

 

 

　

Challenges and achievements for this year

 

2.    Project progress during the PR period to date

 

Please describe concretely and clearly the achievements and problems encountered, indicating the corresponding number in the output list described in Annex 2 as necessary.

1)  Project overall progress

 

To promote creation of urban-rural organic material circulation system, we have initiated 1) Familiarization of composting in urban households in Japan and 2) Pilot projects to strengthen the infrastructure of livelihoods and businesses using organic waste as a material in accordance with the characteristics of each target African cities.

 

(1) In Japan (especially Kyoto)

 

During the first year (FR1), we clarified the method and principle of waterless dry composting, which processes food waste and produces compost using readily available materials and simple methods and worked to familiarize it by producing manual. The name is RIHN Compost (Waterless dry composting type https://organic-rihn.chikyu.ac.jp/recipe/). In previous composting, the users are recommended to add adequate volume of water into the compost (Doberski 2022).

 

The project website provides information and explanations on how to make dry compost, including what to prepare, procedures, what decomposes/ does not decompose, its maturation and use, decomposition mechanisms, and a wide range of other uses. There are many methods of composting, such as effective bacteria (decomposition accelerator), electric dry composting, cardboard composting, and Kiero, etc. RIHN compost (Waterless dry composting type) is characterised by mixing soil, rice bran and chicken manure and leaving it for one week for active fermentation by the growth of filamentous fungi. The soil is then mixed with rice bran and chicken manure and left for one week to generate fermentation heat at 55-60°C that creates a state of drought and starvation in the material.

 

The added food waste is rapidly processed by the decomposition activity of micro-organisms. The main cause of compost failure, such as bad odour and flies, are produced with too much water that creates an anaerobic environment. So, this system does not add water at all, but uses the moisture contained in the food waste and the moisture produced during the process. In the December issue, Contemporary Agriculture (Gendai-nougyo) which is widely read by farmers in Japan, we explained how waterless dry composting works and the principles behind it (achievement #21).

 

Project members are providing integrated learning classes at elementary schools (ES) in Kyoto Prefecture using this dry composting. From May 31 to July 12, 2024, sub-PL Shioya and researcher Aoike went to elementary schools every Friday to teach fifth-grade pupils in Ide Town (2 classes of 27 pupils at Ide ES and 1 class of 15 pupils at Taga ES). From September 27 to November 8, PL Oyama, researcher Noda and Maehata provided classes for sixth grade pupils in Uji-Tawara town (Tawara ES 1 class, 31 pupils; Uji Tawara ES 1 class, 31 pupils). The pupils accurately recorded changes in air and compost temperatures, type and amount of leftover school lunch food to be put in, the smell of the compost, and soil colour, and acquired practical skills of dry composting. Each pupil had an electric tablet to take photos, enter temperatures, and record any changes in smells or materials, which was an excellent example of the use of tablets. The tablets were used to explain the problem of food loss by using leftover food from school lunches, and to convey the importance of composting as a means of effectively utilising food waste. The school made compost is applied to vegetable gardens in the school yards, and we confirmed that cucumbers and other summer vegetables have grown well this year. This activity will be continued in the next fiscal year.

 

The efforts for the schools were featured by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in the "The World of Michimiru Science and Technology" (4 September 2024, #136), as well as in the Rakutai Shimpo newspaper articles: "Making Manure from Food Waste from School Lunch" (8 December 2023, #102), "Making Manure from Food Waste" (6 June 2024, #106), and Kyoto Shimbun newspaper article "Making Manure from Foodwaste"(18 June 2024, #108). In addition, “Easy-to-Compost: Microorganisms Turn Garbage into Manure” was featured as a subject for summer vacation study assignments in the newspapers of Nihonkai Shimbun, Sanin Chuo Shimpo, Shizuoka Shimbun, Ryukyu Shimbun, and other newspapers for kids (4 August 2024, #105).

 

We continue waterless dry composting at the Westin Miyako Hotel in Kyoto City throughout FY2024, following previous year. Project members visit the hotel regularly, every Tuesday and Thursday to collect approximately 15 kg of food waste and make compost. This also serves as an opportunity for members to develop their composting knowledge and skills. We are extremely careful to avoid odours and insects since the location is at the entrance for bringing in food and carrying out linen. At the Westin Miyako Hotel, we provided 500 kg compost to nearby agricultural producers – fig farmers in Joyo City and strawberry farmers in Seika Town – who apply the compost to their fields. The hotel purchases their production, prepares it into sweets, and offers to its guests, creation the cycle. Fig farmer has confirmed that their old trees have come back to life and borne fruits during the hot summer. The Hotel make efforts to realise decarbonised and recycling-oriented society are showcased on the Miyako Hotels & Resorts website (#122 & 123).

 

The project was also featured in the Kyoto Shimbun newspaper as "The challenge of dry composting: bringing leftover food to the land, circulation of food". The article was widely read in Kyoto City and surrounding areas, effectively raising awareness of the project and increased the recognition in the area (#107). We are also uploading videos on YouTube. Oyama PL gave a lecture at the Shiga Green Activity Network (#36), which led to the creation of Japan Agricultural Cooperative (JA) Omi YouTube video "I made compost! Easy and simple!” (#118).

 

Dr. Yamanashi, our joint researcher at the Kyoto City Zoo, is developing environmental education materials using mini-bottles and waterless dry composting. She has created an innovative experimental system for museum trainees at the zoo. It uses 500ml containers to observe the decomposition of vegetable scraps by filling them with animal dung (#23). This system can be applied to environmental education at Kyoto City Zoo.

 

As a result of increased media coverage, greater understanding of the project purpose, activities and goals has led to a surge in requests for lectures and collaboration which are positive responses (#30-31, 35-37, 42, 44-45). The RIHN Open Day participants coming to learn about composting has increased (#43).

 

Furthermore, we established a network in Japan and Africa to utilise organic waste. Researcher Noda is forming a community network by linking Honenin Temple with organic farmers in the Ohara area. He plans to establish a network of urban and rural residents, develop its management system, and call it Kyoto Community Composting.

 

(2) In sub-Saharan African countries

 

2-1 Niger (Niamey): Since the coup in July 2023, project members have been unable to travel to the country. In October and November 2024, the Ministry of Environment and our local project staffs conducted joint surveys. In December, experts from the Ministry of Environment have visited the sites and organize workshops for discussion on the manuals, making it the official greening method approved by the Nigerien government.

 

2-2 Zambia (Lusaka & Choma): We continue research activities in Lusaka, capital city of Lusaka, and in Choma, Southern Province. Since August 2024, we started pig farming using food waste from restaurants and markets in Lusaka, and 15 pigs are currently kept in a piggery. Since mid-November, rain has started, and the project site have been hoed and prepared for an experimental maize field which serves as a model for restoring degraded crop field. In Choma District, we have begun fieldwork with collaborators from the Department of Geography, University of Zambia, and are in discussions with the provincial governor regarding the use of urban organic waste.

 

2-3 Ghana (Accra and Kumasi): In Ghana, we focus on establishing research centres in Accra, the capital city, and Kumasi, the famous commercial city. We plan to compost urban organic waste and cultivate organic cacao in order to promote fair trade of high value-added agricultural products.

 

2-4 Uganda (Kampala and Masindi): In Uganda, a joint research system with Kyambogo University has been established to study the situation of post-harvest food loss in rural areas and in the markets in Kampala, the capital city. In Masindi, a rural city in western Uganda developing through oil drilling, we plan to establish a research centre to study sustainable agriculture by using urban organic waste to restore productivity in fields cleared from forests.

 

2)  Amendments to research objectives, methodology and organization as applicable

 

Following consultation with PD Matsuda, and joint researchers Dr. Kosaka and Dr. Nakamura, we have decided to remove two Southeast Asian countries (Malaysia and Laos) in the next fiscal year, because of the extremely low possibility of conducting field surveys in accordance with the objectives of this project. We are preparing to add Djibouti City (capital city of Djibouti) in East Africa to the list. In Djibouti, an extremely arid region, Oyama PL has constructed an experimental 1 hectare crop field in 2019 for the production of date palms, pastoral grasses and other crops using treated sewage water. The experiment provides an ideal environment for launching research under this project.

 

3.    Self-diagnosis of research results in this year

 

Please describe the following concretely and clearly.
1) Results achieved this year

 

In the first year of FR (Full Research), while working to build a research organisation and structure, PL Oyama and members actively transmitting their research results, mainly through lectures, newspaper, exhibitions of posters and artwork. The project has received positive feedbacks from various sectors in the society, and we have been able to achieve results beyond our expectations in response to social needs. The “waterless dry composting manual”, which was the subject of the last year, has developed into a wide range of project activities. In addition to the points listed under ‘2. Progress to date’, the following explains the activities and results in bullet points.

 

・The method of composting depends on the household way of living, family composition, eating habits, the amount of generated waste, whether the domicile is an apartment or a house, if there is a vegetable garden or farmland. When compost is supplied to agricultural producers, traceability, such as its origin and composition, is often questioned whereas if there is a direct relationship between the people producing and using the compost, it tends to be less of a concern. We ask farmers to prepare their own soil, rice bran and chicken manure for dry composting, and we ensure the traceability of the compost by adding the hotel's food waste which the source is known.

 

・Online workshop was held twice with the participation of all project members in May, where PL Oyama promoted the common understanding of the research direction. Two-day workshop was held again in July at RIHN where members presented and discussed their research results and plans.

 

・We organize the project online seminars for collaborators, RIHN members and open-public every odd months. The first session was by PL Oyama, titled "What the project aims to achieve" (#38), and second was by sub-PL Shioya, titled "Organic circulation and project activities from the perspective of urban agriculture in Uganda" (#50). In addition to joint researchers, speakers from a range of disciplines will be invited.

 

・In Zambia, we were able to conclude an MOU agreement with the University of Zambia (UNZA), and conducted a joint survey in Choma District with the Department of Geography, UNZA in August 2024.

 

・In Uganda, MOU was concluded with Kyambogo University, and joint research on food loss is about to begin at the next year, planed August 2025.

 

・　RIHN Waterless Dry Compost was exhibited at the Kyoto University Academic Day on 21 September 2024, at Zest Oike, Kyoto City. Noda and Aoike gave explanations to visitors (#52).

 

・　With emphasised cooperation with the PR Office of RIHN, contributed to the exhibition at the Kyoto Environmental Festival on 3 February 2024 with Ms. Takekoshi, the joint presentation at the Japan Association for the Communication and Coordination of Science and Technology (JACST) on 30 August with Ms. Shibata (# 52), and RIHN Open Day on 3 November, lecture at the autumn/winter lecture course of the Kyoto City Youth Centre, Future Scientist Training Project (# 44). Ms. Takekoshi has also been active in communicating with the mass media.

 

・"DANCING WITH ALL: The Ecology of Empathy" exhibition at the 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, features three works in collaboration with artist, Mr. Takashi Yasura and curator Dr. Jin Motohashi. They are "Termites Eating Shirts and Waistcloths (from Djibouti)", "Termites Eating Plastic Sandals (From Niger)", and "Compost House". The termites live in a man-made ecosystem, and the exhibition shows the eating scars on shirts and waistcloths, and plastic sandals as a motif of discovery based on the observations of scientists and the empathy of artists. In the "Compost House" exhibit, the heat generated wit food waste decomposition shows the invisibility and fragility of the man-made system. Through the fermentation by invisible microorganisms, the exhibition will showcase a banana plant and whether it can survive the winter in Kanazawa, a city with severe cold.

 

・Majority of middle and high school students read the greening efforts in Niger using urban waste in geography text books (#1 & 5), led to an understanding of the usefulness of organic waste for environmental restoration.

 

・On social networking sites such as Instagram and YouTube, our activities, using urban waste for greening efforts have been featured and viewed more than 10 million times. Requests for newspaper interviews and radio and television appearances have been received occasionally, and PL Oyama has appeared on J-wave FM radio (#104).

 

・Project members (Oyama, Shioya, Noda, Aoike, Maehata) has held study meetings twice a month to review the progress of the project, read related books and journal papers, share information and exchange opinions.

 

・Dr. Harada, a joint researcher, initiated the project "Risk-based Participatory WASH Planning and Citizen-data WASH Statistics for African Peri-urban Settlements" under the JST/JICA Science and Technology Research Program for Global Issues (SATREPS). Data collection has been initiated to develop a material flow model focusing on water, wastewater, sludge and organic waste in Lusaka, Zambia (#130-131).

 

・Sub-PL Shioya and researcher Noda completed Compost school course organised in Wazuka Town, Kyoto Prefecture, from April to November 2024. Principles, material selection, turning skills and concepts of primary and secondary treatment acquired will contribute to further development of the waterless dry compost (#125).

 

・Regular meeting of the Matsuda programme is held once a month, where PL Oyama and researchers report on the progress and share information with PD Matsuda, PL Watanabe and PL Hongo, thus strengthening the cooperation.

 

2)  Results can be evaluated as having overfulfilled

 

The goal of this research project is to create a society that does not produce food waste by making better use of organic waste. The project was able to exceed its goals in networking with other researchers in the project, with researchers and assistants In sub-Sahara Africa, and with domestic companies, Kyoto City Zoo, Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education, elementary schools, and students. I would like to focus on two points here.

 

Firstly, due to high temperatures in summer, frequent extreme weather events and a sense of crisis about environmental issues in recent years, we could capture the needs of the citizens who hope to move towards recycling-oriented society. Until now, scientists, especially environmental scientists, have presented the status and dangers of global environmental problems, but we have not sufficiently shown citizens and consumers what daily measures we can take. We believe it is important to show the benefits of composting organic waste from everyday life in all countries and regions. In Japan, there is a strong interest in managing waste generated in daily life and by industrial activities.

 

Secondly, there is strong social need to combat land degradation and urban waste in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Zambia, Uganda and Ghana, long-term use of chemical fertilisers, herbicides, antimicrobials and pesticides have led to land degradation. In Niger, urban waste and the biological activity of termites is promoting revegetation. In Zambia and Uganda, organic waste is used to feed pigs and pig dung compost to produce maize, and in Ghana organic waste is used to grow organic cocoa. High-income earners are seeking safe food and fertilizer/pesticide-free organic products, and we are aiming to produce high value-added agricultural products through organic farming. By identifying the social needs and based on long-standing relationship of trust, we were able to establish research centres in the target countries.

 

3)  Points to be evaluated that the goals were not reached

 

We believe we have generally met our objectives for the first year. The recent high prices of food, fertilisers and other commodities, and growing awareness of the waste crisis, have forced us to respond to requests for speaking engagements, newspaper interviews and radio appearances. By the publics’ significant response to media coverage, we received offers from various industries, including organic food distributors, lunchbox catering company, green tea manufacturer, and organic farming company. However, it is difficult to respond adequately due to the labour shortage.

 

4)    Notable achievements and challenges as to contribution to the RIHN programs

The Global Environmental Culture Program (Matsuda PD) aims to bring cultural perspectives to research that contributes to solving global environmental issues, and to examine the processes that lead to changes in people's behaviour and values. In Kyoto and sub-Saharan Africa, this project will focus on understanding how local people perceive and respond to declining agricultural production, the expansion of degraded land, desertification and deforestation. It is difficult to summarise the knowledge and skills of an ethnic group or region in relation to the use of organic waste and composting, and there is a great deal of individual variation. The knowledge and skills of these individuals were previously not generalisable and could not be the subject of science, but this project is unique in that it focuses on the indigenous knowledge and networks of individuals and attempts to guide them towards solutions to environmental issues from both side of urban and rural areas.

 

 

　

Future tasks

 

5.    Research plan for next year　(Complete section 4 through 6 within 3 pages in total)

 

Please describe in detail the activities to be undertaken in the next fiscal year.  Figures, tables and pictures can be included here. Supplementary figures, tables and pictures should be put in section 8.

 

Next year will be the second year of the FR. We plan to focus on pilot experiments on the use of organic waste, greening and agricultural use, using the research bases established in the first year.

 

The political situation in Niger has been unstable since the coup d'état in July 2023, but we continue efforts to collect data remotely by local staff. If the political situation improves and the security information from the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs drops to security level 2, PL Oyama will plan to make a short trip to confirm the security situation and exchange information with local counterparts. Relations with Nigerien Ministry of Environment are good and the research base is maintained up to now, making it possible to resume activities at any time.

 

In Zambia, Harada and Hara, Oyama, Aoike and Noda are conducting field research. Harada has started a JICA/JST SATREPS project and is in collaboration with this project. Hara plans to observe experimental plots established in FY2023 in Lusaka and Mfumbwe District, North-Western Province. The partners are the Institute of Economic and Social Research (INESOR) and the Department of Geography and Environmental Sciences at the University of Zambia, which has completed an MOU with RIHN. In Lusaka, PL will conduct field research on pig production using organic waste as feed and maize production using pig manure. In Choma City, Southern Province, a new research centre will be set up to study soil improvement using organic waste and drought resilient agriculture.

 

Shioya, Nakazawa, Noda and Oyama plans to conduct joint research on food loss issues at each stage of the process, from cultivation in rural areas to urban consumers, based on an academic exchange MOU agreement with Kyambogo University. In Uganda, female obesity is a problem in urban areas, and it is important to understand the real situation of food loss, as large quantities of staple foods are served in restaurants and consumers throw them away. In addition, the urban culture of eating pork, known as pork joints, has taken root in urban Uganda and there are plans to produce pork in the cities. In Kampala and Masindi, a District in the western part of the country, an experimental site is being set up to pilot pig farming and composting.

 

 In Ghana, Kirikoshi, Ushiku and Oyama continue their field research. Kirikoshi has established 3x3 m² experimental plots in the forest and savanna zones and is observing what types of plants grow in the plots by adding local domestic waste. With reference to Anderson (1952) and Abbo et al. (2005) who proposed the 'dump-heap hypothesis' as the origin of agriculture, we plan to study changes in the plant species growing in the area, resulting from the accumulation of waste in people's homes. We plan to set up two experimental plots in Accra and Kumasi for organic cacao farming in combination with composting and pig farming using organic waste as a material.

 

In Djibouti, wastewater flows through the sewerage system installed in the capital city to the treatment plant. PL build a farm with one hectare (100x100 m²) experimental field, being next to the treatment plant. Tokyo University of Agriculture will end SATREPS project in March 2025, but the Djibouti Ministry of Agriculture has allowed the experimental field to continue operating. Djibouti in an extremely arid tropical environment with an annual rainfall of 140 mm, and water is a major constraint for agriculture. By using treated wastewater for irrigation, 30 date palms have grown since February 2020. Despite the harsh environment of intense solar radiation, high temperatures and severe aridity, the project aims to establish an agro-pastoral system using treated wastewater for irrigation.

 

We plan to install meteorological monitoring equipment (rainfall, temperature and humidity) in the experimental plots in each country, which will automatically measure and record data. Additionally, CO₂ and CH₄ sensors will be used for field observations to measure CO² and CH⁴ emissions from abandoned organic waste or agricultural use using the chamber method.

 

In Japan, research activities will be concentrated mainly in Kyoto. We will continue waterless dry compost in the hotel, working with agricultural producers, contributing to the branding of agricultural products and hotel, and contributing to the creation of social capital in a way that people can see. We will also maintain the provision of composting classes in five elementary schools in the prefecture (including special needs school) and, with the cooperation from teachers and the Kyoto Prefectural Board of Education, promote the creation of manuals as comprehensive learning classes and consider extension to other schools in the prefecture. Plus, we will continue mini-composting experiments at Kyoto City Zoo to develop and establish environmental education methods and explore the possibility of commercialisation with designers and promoters. Moreover, we continue to inspect the chemical and biological properties and toxic heavy metals by a third-party organisation.

 

Our project plans to organize a session at the 16th International Conference on Desert Technology (DT) to be held at Plaza Heisei, Tokyo International Exchange Centre, from 10 to 12 November 2025. The Board of the Japanese Association for Arid Land Studies approached us with a proposal to hold their annual meeting of at RIHN in June 2026. We plan to accept and begin preparations in 2025.

 

We will continue to organize the members’ workshops in May and July, project public seminars on odd months, and projects study group twice a month. The project plans to actively transmit the activities through its website and social networking sites, as well as through media such as newspapers, TV and radio. As a result of these activities, PL Oyama will be awarded the 11^th World Omosiroi (Fun and Interesting) Award in February 2025.

 

 

 

6. Tasks for the next fiscal year onward (Complete section 4 through 6 within 3 pages in total)

 

1. Please describe in detail the problems and challenges that your project faced this year and their possible solutions. 2. Please indicate if there are any particular issues regarding the RIHN support system for project research.

 

1) The main focus of this project, the idea of using urban organic waste for agricultural production and ecological restoration, has not been attractive to the academia. Because of its heterogeneity, waste cannot be controlled, making it difficult for scientists to publish academic papers. During the three years of FS, PR and FR1, we felt that we needed to be creative in how we involved our staff, but through repeated online and face-to-face meetings and public seminars, we were able to share our awareness of the issues as a research project.

 

In response to newspaper articles and public lectures, we received offers from green tea manufacturer ITO EN, food trading company SOJIZ　Corporation, lunchbox and catering company KAKUI Foods, organic food specialist HEALTH　LIFE　Inc. and so on, but were unable to respond adequately. Despite the constraints of time and labour, we intend to continue our research activities while identifying what is important to the project fundamentals.

 

2) I don't feel that there is anything specific. However, even though RIHN and Kyoto University are close to each other, problems generating from project management and paperwork due to cross appointments is greater than I expected. I am not able to sufficiently deal with the task carefully. The procedures for business travel, parallel work and duplication of e-learning are unmanageable, and it is quite time and effort consuming. But I would like to make an effort to see how we can create meaningful relationships with other projects and collaborations. I also feel that the working system for researchers and research support staff is very restrictive in terms of working hours, even in a discretionary working system, and I feel that this has a negative impact on the works of PL.

 

I am grateful for the works of the Research Planning Subsection, Financial Planning Subsection, Procurement Subsection, Public Relations Unit and other staffs at RIHN. PD Matsuda has given me useful comments on a daily basis, and I use his advice in managing the project.

 

 

Leader, OYAMA Shuichi, Organic Circulation between Urban and Rural Area, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Professor, Project management

NAKANO Tomoko, Faculty of Economics, Chuo University, Professor, Measurement and analysis of carbon exchange

KOSAKA Yasuyuki, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Associate Professor, Agricultural ecosystems in Lao PDR

TSUCHIYA Yuichiro, Faculty of Education, Kyoto University of Edccation, Professor, Waste problems and social systems

SHIMADA Sawahiko, Faculty of Regional Environment Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, professor, Analysis of Current Status on Material Circulation of Biomass Resources

HARADA Hidenori, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Associate Professor, Wastewater and excreta management

SAKAMOTO Takuto, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Tokyo, Professor, Data analysis and simulation

YABE Naoto, Department of Geography, Faculty of Urban Environmental Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Associate Professor, Virtual nutrition analysis

USHIKU Haruka, Faculty of Economics, Hokkai Gakuen University, Associate Professor, Local economy

KIRIKOSHI Hitomi, Faculty of Letters, Kokushikan University, Associate Professor, Rural sutudies

ITO Yutaka, Faculty of Regional Policy, The University of Shimane, Associate Professor, Analysis of Current Status on Material Circulation of Biomass Resources

HARA Masaya, Graduate School of Human Development and Environment, Kobe University, Assistant Professor, Agricultural production

SUZUKI Kanako, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Assistant Professor, Agronomy, Soil Science

NAKAO Seiji, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Associate Professor, Circulation of materials across the border

NAKAZAWA Mei, Faculty of Contemporery Social Studies, Setsunan University, Assistant Professor, Utilization and disposal of waste

NAKAMURA Ryosuke, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Assistant Professor, Biogeochemistry

SAITO Miho, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Assistant Professor, Animal Behavioral Ecology

YAMANASHI Yumi, Center for Research and Education of Wildlife, Kyoto City Zoo, Pricipal Researcher, Experimental psychology ＆ Natural anthropology

ASAKURA Yasuhiro, Department of International Agricultural Development, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Postdoctoral Fellow, Analysis of Current Status on Material Circulation of Biomass Resources

Sub leader, SHIOYA Akiyo, Graduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Program-Specific Assistant Professor, Area studies, Anthropology, Urban-Rural Distribution Studies

SEERA Georgina, Center for African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Specially Appointed Researchers, Human Nutrition

MAEHATA Teruya, Organic Circulation between Urban and Rural Area, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Researcher, Area Studies, Ecology

NODA Kentaro, Organic Circulation between Urban and Rural Area, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Researcher, Area Studies, Ecological Anthropology

AOIKE Utako, Organic Circulation between Urban and Rural Area, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Researcher, Area Studies, Waste Management

NAKADE Michiko, Organic Circulation between Urban and Rural Area, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, Research Associate