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Responding to environmental issues
CO2 absorption capacity of Ashitaba
New variety "New Ashitaba"
Proven to absorb 2.6 to 20 times more CO2 than other plants
Yearly CO2 absorption capacity: 183 tons/1ha
Presenter: Dr. Yutaka Urano (Agriculture, University of Tokyo)
Graduate School of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo
The "New Ashitaba Cultivar" is a new variety of Ashitaba (Seed and Seedlings Act: No. 14641) that is native to Hachijojima, and research conducted by Dr. Yutaka Urano (Agriculture, University of Tokyo) and others has proven that it has a higher CO2 absorption capacity than other plants.
The annual CO2 absorption capacity of one hectare of the new cultivar Ashitaba was calculated to be 183 tons based on actual growth measurements. This is approximately 2.6 times the 70 tons capacity of Sun Patience, which is the fastest-growing horticultural plant.
In addition, when compared to the carbon fixation capacity of other large vegetables, the capacity was approximately 19 times that of radishes (edible portion approximately 3 kg) at approximately 10 tons, and approximately 4.4 times that of sweet potatoes (edible portion approximately 1.1 kg) at 42 tons.
All green plants grow by synthesizing carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water in the atmosphere through photosynthesis. However, when plants die and are incinerated as waste or returned to the soil to rot and decompose, the carbon fixed during growth is released back into the atmosphere in the form of CO2, resulting in a net zero.
This does not mean that plants have fixed carbon from the atmosphere. Therefore, it is proposed to use plant biomass as a resource in an appropriate way (see the explanation of 5F below). In this way, plants can be considered as a "carbon fixation source" that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The new Ashitaba variety has the great advantage of being highly capable of absorbing CO2, and can be eaten as food, which is the most efficient way to utilize resources (see 5F). Furthermore, there is the possibility of utilizing almost all of the biomass, from the roots to the stems and leaves.
In the future, it is expected that it will play an important role in carbon offsets and carbon credits related to the CO2 emissions business, as well as promoting the creation of a low-carbon society as a national movement.
Social contribution business
In my work as the predecessor organization of the Ashitaba Association (Vegetable Cultivation Volunteers Supporting Agriculture), I grew Ashitaba together with people with disabilities, people who have become reclusive, and people who suffer from depression.
Cultivating Ashitaba is safe and light work, and we don't have to go into the fields when it rains. And we pay higher wages than average part-time workers.
Through angelica tree cultivation, people with disabilities have become more proactive in their work and their expressions have become much brighter.
People with depression also saw an improvement in about a month, and their social withdrawal was cured.
I think the sunlight probably sets their body clocks.
And there is also an immune effect from the vitamin D provided by sunlight.
Based on these achievements, we would like to address employment issues and social problems for people with disabilities and carry out contribution projects through Ashitaba.
We will also build support facilities and make more proactive, concrete contributions to society.
For example, at support facilities, meals for residents and lunches for workers will be made into medicinal dishes using Ashitaba, and these menus will be distributed as medicinal menu items to elderly care facilities across the country, and Ashitaba will also be sold.
Eating Ashitaba can help prevent the onset of Alzheimer's disease and improve osteoporosis.
We would like to use the profits from the sale of Ashitaba to further improve our support facilities and to increase the wages of those who help us, especially people with disabilities.
We appreciate your cooperation.
Employment continuation support type B Kasama Satota
At Kasama Satota, we cultivate and manage the healthy Satoen Satota Ashitaba vegetable, as well as carrying out other work activities, to provide a place where people with intellectual disabilities can live healthy lives and experience the joy of food and living.
work activities
・Cultivation and harvest of Satoen Ashitaba
・Cooking Ashitaba at a Rieban Banquet
・Development of processed products using Satoen Ashitaba
・Selling food, miscellaneous goods, etc. at the farm shop
・Providing guidance for visitors to pick the fruit
・Raising livestock such as goats
・Weeding by goats
・WCreating miscellaneous goods using natural materials
What is the new species of angelica?
The "New Ashitaba Cultivar" is the only new cultivar of angelica that has been registered in the world.
(Variety registration under the Seed and Seedlings Act: Rie No. 14641)
Originally, angelica has been used as food and as a folk medicine since the Edo period, mainly in the Izu Islands.
The yellow substances contained in angelica (chalcone compounds... xanthoangelol and 4-hydroxyderricin) are known to have various effects, including anticancer, antiulcer, antithrombotic, antibacterial and anti-AIDS effects.
In addition, recent academic research has shown that coumarins have preventive and therapeutic effects against Alzheimer's disease.
F
urthermore, the "new variety of Ashitaba" is expected to have equal or even greater medicinal properties, and is garnering attention as a vegetable of the future
The new Ashitaba variety is also extremely nutritious and is highly regarded as a medicinal herb.
The new Ashitaba variety is characterized by its delicious taste and excellent cold resistance and winter hardiness compared to conventional Ashitaba.
Its cold resistance and winter hardiness have been demonstrated in Shari, Hokkaido, Kuzumaki, Iwate Prefecture, and Toyama Prefecture.
Because it is cold-resistant and winter-hardy, it can be grown anywhere, and unlike conventional ashitaba, which is only grown in the Izu Islands, it can be mass-produced all over the country, and is a new ashitaba variety with an entirely different business area and scale, being used not only as a vegetable but also for processed products and as a raw material for medical products.
Ashitaba functionality and effects, presentation and implementation of empirical research
Ashitaba is rich in nutrients Contains a good balance.
Compared to kale, a familiar ingredient in green juice, it is attracting attention as a healthy vegetable that is rich in various vitamins, minerals, dietary fiber, and other nutrients essential for health and beauty.
Nutritional ratio of "Ashitaba" and kale per 100g of edible portion
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We discovered that Ashitaba has various physiological activities.
Solar sharing (agricultural solar power generation)
Wisteria trellis + angelica tree cultivation
This is the result of a research project conducted by the University of Tokyo on solar sharing (agricultural solar power generation) using a wisteria trellis and growing angelica tree.
(Please contact us separately for published papers and research reports from the University of Tokyo.)
*All "angelica tree" in the text is a new angelica tree variety (registered variety: Rie 14641). This new angelica tree variety is cold-resistant and can be grown anywhere in the country. It is also a high-yielding variety.
February 2014 to December 2014
Solar sharing (agricultural photovoltaic power generation) - experimental research on wisteria trellis-style single-sided panels and angelica tree cultivation
Experimental research field - Tsuchiura City, Ibaraki Prefecture
When implementing solar sharing (agricultural solar power generation), the government does not permit the temporary conversion of farmland if the yield of the crops under the panels is more than 20% lower than the yield in the surrounding area.
In other words, solar sharing (agricultural solar power generation) is not possible.
In the case of angelica tree, it is not a negative matter of "not dropping by more than 20%," but rather a positive one in that yields increase in the shade of the solar panels. This empirical study from the University of Tokyo proved this. Yields increased by an incredible 16%.
November 2019 to May 2020
Demonstration research on solar sharing (agricultural solar power generation) with wisteria trellis-style double-sided panels and angelica tree cultivation
Demonstration research field: Nishitokyo City, Tokyo, Institute for Ecological Agriculture, University of Tokyo
In solar sharing (agricultural solar power generation), a demonstration study was conducted at the University of Tokyo using double-sided panels and attaching a reflective sheet to the cultivated land underneath the panels. Research results:
The diffuse reflection of the reflective sheet stimulated photosynthesis in angelica trees from the sides, resulting in increased yields.
Power can be generated on the back of solar sharing (agricultural solar power generation) panels.
The amount of light received on the back was confirmed to be 30% to 35% of the amount received on the front. This is expected to increase the amount of power generated.
The airtightness of the reflective sheet on the ground surface provided a perfect weed prevention effect.
The diffuse reflection of the reflective sheet had a pest-repelling effect due to the insects' halo reaction.
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