[Welzo Co., Ltd.] [Industry-academia collaboration] Kyushu
University, a world leader in plasma agri-research, and Welzo use unique technology to reduce CO2 emissions from organic fertilizers in the 800 billion yen market
Developing zero-emission nitrogen fertilizer; joint research aimed at sustainable agriculture begins
*Welzo Co., Ltd.*
Press release: September 3, 2024
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[Industry-academia collaboration] Kyushu University, a world leader in plasma agriculture research, and Welzo use unique technology to reduce CO2 emissions from organic fertilizers in the 800 billion yen market Joint research aimed at sustainable agriculture begins to develop nitrogen fertilizer with zero emissions
Welzo Research Farm (Imazu, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture) Welzo, an innovation company in agriculture and horticulture (Head office: Hakata-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture/President Yoshifumi Kanao) and the Kyushu University Plasma Nano-Interface Engineering Center (Director: Professor Masaharu Shiratani, Campus: Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka City), which is a world leader in plasma agriculture research, are developing * as a new approach to
sustainable agriculture.
We have begun joint research aimed at social implementation of plasma agriscience*. Plasma agriculture is an initiative that utilizes plasma technology to improve agricultural productivity.
* Aiming for sustainable agriculture through “plasma agriculture” that utilizes nitrogen in the air *
Kyushu University and Welzo aim to realize sustainable agriculture with low CO2 emissions by utilizing “plasma agri,” a new fertilizer production technology that uses nitrogen in the air. As the world’s population continues to grow and fertilizer raw materials are expected to be in short supply, this technology will be a breakthrough in paving the way for a sustainable agricultural future. In addition, we aim to commercialize it as a PoC within a year, and it has the potential to dramatically increase the domestic self-sufficiency rate of nitrogen in agriculture in the future.
Image of practical application
* Almost 97.5% of nitrogen is imported, and the production process has a large environmental burden *
The three major nutrients in agriculture are nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potassium, and for nitrogen we are almost entirely dependent on imports (97.5%). Nitrogen, in particular, is an essential element for plant growth, and is important for the production of chlorophyll, photosynthesis, and as a component of proteins and DNA. However, the Haber-Bosch method, which is the currently used method for producing nitrogen fertilizer (urea), consumes large amounts of energy and CO2 in a high-temperature, high-pressure environment, resulting in a large environmental impact. In addition, the global organic fertilizer market is worth 800 billion yen, and it is expected that the market will expand in the future due to the expansion of the organic fertilizer market and the increase in the global population.* There is a possibility that there will be a global competition for fertilizer, so expanding the production of fertilizer itself in Japan is an extremely important step* to increase food self-sufficiency. * Plasma agri joint research details*
● *Research content*: Joint research towards social implementation of plasma agriscience
● *Goal*: Development of fertilizers and soil that do not rely on fossil fuels, and the machinery and equipment to manufacture them. ● *Period*: From April 1, 2020
● * Location*: Welzo Research Farm (Imazu, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture) *Construction of a new house
The joint research between Kyushu University and Welzo will also contribute to the promotion of smart agriculture and aim to realize sustainable agriculture. This innovative technology can be produced anywhere in Japan, contributing to reducing environmental impact and improving agricultural productivity.
Welzo Research Farm New House (Imazu, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture)
Kazunori Koga (Professor, Kyushu University Graduate School of Systems and Information Science/Plasma Nano-Interface Engineering Center) [From Kazunori Furuga (Professor, Graduate School of Systems and Information Science, Kyushu University/Plasma Nano-Interface Engineering Center)]
I have been involved in agricultural application research of plasma technology since around 2010. Plasma technology supports society as a fundamental technology for semiconductor device manufacturing and various other industries. In plasma, chemical reactions can occur with high activity at around room temperature. By using this principle and generating plasma in the air, it is possible to make nitrogen fertilizer from the air. We met Mr. Welzo and exchanged information regarding this result, which led to this joint research. In order to achieve sustainable fertilizer self-sufficiency in Japan, we aim to develop new agricultural materials by combining Kyushu University’s seeds with the company’s knowledge.
Masaharu Koga (Deputy Manager, Agribusiness Division, Welzo Biz Promotion Division)
[From Masaharu Koga (Deputy Manager, Agribusiness Division, Welzo Biz Promotion Division)]
Currently, almost all of the agricultural fertilizers used in Japan depend on foreign sources, and the only domestically produced fertilizer is urea (nitrogen fertilizer), which is produced in very small quantities. In addition to the predicted increase in world population and food shortages, the shortage of fertilizer raw materials will have a serious impact on the agricultural sector. In order to solve this huge problem, Professor Koga of Kyushu University is working to develop domestically produced fertilizer that is environmentally friendly and clean by utilizing the plasma technology being researched, thereby realizing sustainable agriculture in Japan and the world. We would like to aim for this.
Starting in 2022, Welzo and Kyushu University will work together to develop smart agriculture, which enables labor reduction and stable supply, in order to solve issues such as the decreasing number of agricultural workers due to the declining birthrate and aging population, and securing stable food supplies. As part of our joint research, we are developing an “automatic cucumber cultivation system.”
Welzo Research Farm (Imazu, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture)
Japanese agriculture faces a variety of issues, including an aging population, a lack of successors, an increase in abandoned farmland, management issues, efficient production, a stable supply of
agricultural products, and price fluctuations. These two types of joint research will help solve social issues, and we will work to contribute to the development of sustainable agriculture and the revitalization of local communities.
* [Kyushu University Plasma Nano-Interface Engineering Center Overview]*
If we can elucidate and control the interaction between plasma and nano-interfaces, it will lead to explosive progress in the creation of advanced nanomaterials and nanostructures that were previously impossible to achieve. This center will promote systematic research on the basics and applications of the interaction between lasma and nanointerfaces, and will establish an international core research center. We promote joint research and interactive international education with domestic and international industry, government, and academia, including overseas universities and research institutes such as Germany and South Korea. We will play a part in making Kyushu University a global research and education center by accepting excellent students from Japan and overseas, developing them into human resources who will lead the world, and supplying them to industry, government, and academia around the world.
Researcher: Kazunori Furuga (Professor, Kyushu University Graduate School of Systems and Information Science/Plasma Nano-Interface Engineering Center)
Researcher: Manabu Tanaka (Associate Professor, Kyushu University Graduate School of Engineering)
* [Welzo Research Farm Overview] *
Our research farm (Imazu, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture) has five greenhouses on a site of approximately 1,000 tsubo, and the growth status of crops is monitored daily using data obtained from high-performance cameras and various environmental measurement devices installed within the facility. is being evaluated. Currently, we are working with Kyushu University to develop an “automatic cucumber cultivation system (yield: 50t/10a)”, and based on the accumulated data, we will determine the optimal environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, etc.) for plant growth. We aim to derive nutritional conditions (water, fertilizer, etc.) and ultimately perform consistent cultivation management using AI, and will continue to develop smart farming methods and materials for all crops in greenhouse horticulture. In addition, we do not set up a sales route for crops harvested during the research stage, and instead strive to contribute to the local community by distributing them within the company and the local community, and providing opportunities for children to experience harvesting.
■Click here for a news release regarding the use of cucumbers after harvest. https://www.welzo.co.jp/news/20240620/
■Click here for the news release about the harvest experience with Child Heart. https://www.welzo.co.jp/news/20240216/
* [Overview of Welzo Co., Ltd.] *
We are a specialized trading company that primarily handles
agricultural materials, home gardening supplies, and feed and fertilizer raw materials, providing products and services that enrich people’s lives and create a sustainable society through food and agriculture. Founded in 2022
Nichiriu Nagase, which has celebrated its 101st anniversary, changed its company name to “Welzo Co., Ltd.” on January 1, 2023. BtoB We have built a business style centered on , and have 21 locations in Japan. By co-creating with internal and external business partners and utilizing IT and AI technologies, we are actively addressing the issues facing Japan.
Head office 1-14-3 Hakataeki Higashi, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka Prefecture Representative Yoshifumi Kanao, Representative Director and President Established August 1952 (Founded August 1921)
Capital 470 million yen
Sales 49,540 million yen (December 2023)
Business: A specialized trading company that mainly handles
agricultural materials, home gardening supplies, and raw materials for feed and fertilizer.
HP https://www.welzo.co.jp/