Kokubu Farm’s Recycling System – December 2002

Kokubu Farm’s Recycling System – December 2002 Located in Otama Village, Adachi District, Fukushima Prefecture, Kokubu Farm has implemented a recycling-based agricultural system that reuses local organic materials. Through a partnership with the Dake Onsen Ryokan Cooperative, this system composts approximately 200 tons of food scraps and livestock manure annually. As a result, the cost of disposing of waste generated by the inns in Dake Onsen has been reduced by about 40%. Approximately 100 tons of food waste are collected annually from hot spring inns and about 50 tons from restaurants. This waste is decomposed at a composting facility and converted into compost. This compost is used on approximately 20 hectares of farmland at Kokubu Farm, contributing to the production of about 150 tons of crops annually. In addition, Kokubu Farm accepts approximately 500 tons of organic waste annually from the entire Adachi District, successfully reducing the region’s total waste disposal costs by 30%, or approximately 5 million yen. Since the introduction of the composting system, annual waste disposal costs have decreased from approximately 15 million yen to 10 million yen. This composting system is supported by the “Fukushima Organic Recycling Cooperative” and is operated in partnership with the local company “Fukushima Biotech Co., Ltd.” As a result, it efficiently processes organic waste from the entire region and has garnered attention as a model case for circular agriculture, with the initiative gradually spreading among farmers throughout Fukushima Prefecture.