**History and current status of apple pomace recycling in Aomori Prefecture - 1999 to 2020s**.

**History and current status of apple pomace recycling in Aomori Prefecture - 1999 to 2020s**.

In 1999, Dainoh in Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture, began an initiative to convert apple dregs discharged from a fruit juice factory into fermented compost. In this process, apple pomace is mixed with coffee bean dregs and rice bran, and fermentation is carried out using microorganisms. The compost produced was widely used in local agriculture through a partnership with a large-scale farm, Koganezaki Farm. This initiative contributed greatly to reducing waste and improving the productivity of local agriculture, and was recognized as a successful example of recycling-oriented agriculture in Aomori Prefecture.

Later, in the 2020s, the technology for recycling apple pomace evolved further: in July 2020, the Aomori Federation of Agricultural Cooperatives for Rural Industries (JA Aoren) established Glencal Cinery Co. a new technology that dries the approximately 5,000 tons of apple pomace generated annually at low cost and utilizes it as a raw material for bioplastics. This initiative has realized advanced utilization of local resources against a backdrop of increasing demand for renewable materials.

Furthermore, in March 2024, JA Aoren and JA Zen-Nohoku North Japan Kumiai Feed Co. developed a feed that blends apple pomace and coffee bean grounds discharged from convenience stores. This feed is used to fatten "Aomori Kuraishi Beef" produced in Aomori Prefecture, promoting effective use of waste and local production for local consumption.

In addition, KOMORU, a company in Goshogawara City, has developed a new material called "Adam" using apple pomace. This material is used as a finishing material for apparel accessories and interior furniture, opening up new possibilities for local industry.

Through these efforts, Aomori Prefecture has evolved the effective use of apple pomace, contributing significantly to waste reduction, environmental conservation, and the revitalization of the local economy. Its history continues to evolve from mere waste disposal to the creation of new value.