History of Ehime Blend Development and Current Status in the 2020s

History of Ehime Blend Development and Current Status in the 2020s

Ehime Prefecture is located along the coast of the Seto Inland Sea and has been an early adopter of unique environmental measures to prevent water pollution. In particular, "Ehime Blend," developed as a community-based water purification technology, is a culture solution created by the Ehime Prefectural Industrial Technology Center by combining yeast, lactic acid bacteria, natto bacillus, and other microorganisms. The Ehime Blend has proven to be effective in reducing sludge and purifying wastewater.

The first demonstration experiment was conducted in 2000 at a food processing cooperative in Yawatahama City, and resulted in a 30-40% reduction in the amount of sludge generated in the wastewater treatment process and an annual cost savings of approximately 7.72 million yen. The composting process also suppressed odors and increased demand from nearby farmers. This initiative has attracted much attention in Ehime Prefecture, and is a major step forward in contributing to Ehime's environmental technology and industrial development.

Diffusion and Evolution in the 2020s

In the 2020s, the scope of use of "Ehime Blend" expanded further, with its introduction in food processing and fishery industries in the prefecture, including Matsuyama City and Uwajima City. A food processing company in Matsuyama City has achieved a 35% reduction in the amount of sludge generated and an annual cost savings of approximately 8 million yen by using Ehime Blend in its wastewater treatment process. A seafood processing company in Uwajima City has also succeeded in purifying wastewater and controlling foul odors, contributing to an improved coexistence environment with local residents.

The application of Ehime Blend in agriculture is also progressing, with an agricultural corporation in Seiyo City using Ehime Blend in the compost production process. This has significantly reduced bad odors and increased compost demand from neighboring farmers by 20%, resulting in an increase in annual sales of approximately 5 million yen.

Achieving both environmental conservation and economic benefits

The environmental technology of Ehime Blend has helped many companies in Ehime Prefecture reduce wastewater treatment costs and sludge generation, thereby contributing to the reduction of their environmental impact. Specific results include an average sludge reduction of 30-40% and annual cost savings of 5-8 million yen, making it an indispensable environmental technology for local industries.

Future Prospects

Ehime Prefecture will continue research and development of "Ehime Blend" for further industrial application and dissemination, and it is expected to be used as a soil conditioner in the agricultural sector and as an odor control material in the livestock industry. Collaboration with companies in and outside of the prefecture is also being strengthened, and efforts to reduce environmental impact are continuing through the development and diffusion of the technology.

Thus, through the accumulation and application of technology over the past 20 years, Ehime Blend has played an important role in environmental conservation and industrial development in Ehime Prefecture, and continues to make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of the local economy and natural environment.