Biomass Utilization by AgriFuture Joetsu in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture - Current Status in the 2020s Entering the 2020s, AgriFuture Joetsu (Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture) has further expanded its community-based biomass utilization business. The company utilizes locally underutilized resources such as thinned timber and agricultural waste (rice straw, wheat straw, vegetable residues, etc.) to produce biomass plastics and bioenergy. The annual biomass resources processed reach approximately 30,000 tons, with about 10,000 tons consisting of thinned timber and agricultural waste. Furthermore, annual biomass plastic production has increased to approximately 7,000 tons, used both within and outside the region.

Biomass Utilization by AgriFuture Joetsu in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture - Current Status in the 2020s Entering the 2020s, AgriFuture Joetsu (Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture) has further expanded its community-based biomass utilization business. The company utilizes locally underutilized resources such as thinned timber and agricultural waste (rice straw, wheat straw, vegetable residues, etc.) to produce biomass plastics and bioenergy. The annual biomass resources processed reach approximately 30,000 tons, with about 10,000 tons consisting of thinned timber and agricultural waste. Furthermore, annual biomass plastic production has increased to approximately 7,000 tons, used both within and outside the region.

Specifically, AgriFuture Joetsu is strengthening industry-academia collaboration with Kyoto University and local companies like Daiwa House Industry Co., Ltd. to advance the utilization of regional resources and enhance technology. The introduction of new technologies has improved the quality of biomass plastics, enabling the production of products with superior durability and recyclability. For example, furniture and building materials made from biomass plastics have been introduced in public facilities and schools in Joetsu City, promoting the spread of eco-friendly building materials.

Furthermore, energy supply through biomass utilization is advancing. The biomass power generation facility installed in Joetsu City uses locally collected biomass resources as fuel, supplying electricity equivalent to approximately 8,000 households annually. This facility purchases thinned timber and agricultural waste from local farmers and forestry stakeholders, contributing to the revitalization of the regional economy.

AgriFuture Joetsu also offers significant CO2 reduction benefits, with an expected annual reduction of approximately 10,000 tons of CO2. This helps reduce environmental impact both within and outside the region, contributing to the realization of a sustainable society. Furthermore, the project is actively engaged in biochar production, utilizing this technology to contribute to soil improvement and increased agricultural productivity. In 2021, an agricultural project utilizing biochar commenced in Joetsu City, promising further environmental impact reduction and economic benefits. Moving forward, AgriFuture Joetsu aims to maximize the use of local resources, expand the potential of biomass utilization, and contribute to the sustainable development of the entire region centered around Joetsu City.