New practices to protect lettuce growing areas
Award Winners
Shizuoka Prefectural Fugakukan High School
Hiroki Narushima, Rei Naito, Kanta Sano, Yuriya Imabuchi, Kazuki Choji
Rediscovering my hometown
Lettuce cultivation in greenhouses and the "AHX chip" he developed himself
Ways to revitalize the local area
In Fujinomiya City, Shizuoka Prefecture, lettuce is grown in greenhouses, but global warming is causing a decline in the yield and quality of lettuce in the summer. Therefore, the researchers wondered if they could use azahypoxanthine (AHX), a growth regulator extracted from a mushroom that is resistant to environmental stress, to produce lettuce that can withstand high temperatures.
We invented and developed "AHX chips" by soaking AHX in carbonized paper sludge and waste from the local paper industry, and tried growing lettuce under high-temperature stress. The AHX chips increased the survival rate of lettuce under high temperatures and its vegetative growth in the early stages of cultivation, allowing us to harvest a large amount of baby leaves (leaves at the beginning of cultivation). AHX chips are an eco-friendly material, and can be grown without using fans in the summer, which also contributes to preventing global warming.
After exchanging opinions with agricultural cooperatives and farmers, AHX chips were trial-introduced to local lettuce farmers, resulting in a large harvest of baby lettuce. The chips absorb dairy manure and moisture, promoting composting and creating compost that can withstand high temperatures, so it is also possible to expand the use of the chips to local dairy farmers.
Comments and points regarding the award
This is a practical proposal that directly contributes to local agricultural production. The data-based proposal and initiatives are concrete and excellent. The effectiveness of the chips, developed by effectively utilizing waste materials from the local paper industry, is explained in an easy-to-understand manner, linking it to global environmental issues.
Orchard Wedding
Award Winners
Aomori Prefectural Nakui Agricultural High School
Noda Hisaki, Sato Haruka, Shito Miki, Kuzugata Koyuki, Matsuhashi Nami, Taneichi Yukina, Sasaki Ai
Rediscovering my hometown
- Spring scenery in the fruit orchards of Nanbu Town, Aomori Prefecture (apple, cherry, peach, plum, apricot, plum, and other blossoms)
- Summer and autumn scenery in the fruit orchard (cherries in early summer, plums, apples in autumn, and blueberry leaves in autumn)
Ways to revitalize the local area
Nanbu Town in Aomori Prefecture is known as a town of fruit. However, there is an issue of abandoned farmland due to the aging of farmers. To address this issue, we came up with the idea of using abandoned orchards as venues for wedding receptions and parties.
A wedding held under beautiful flowers and ripe apples will be a lifelong memory. Favors include fresh fruit from local orchards. Nakui Agricultural High School has been cultivating white apples and yellow cherries for generations. Red and white apples and happy yellow cherries make the perfect wedding favors.
The hospitality will include delicious local cuisine that can only be found in rural areas, and a wedding cake filled with fruit. There is a large greenhouse with a transparent roof, so rain is not an issue.
Having young people come together to plan and manage these events will help stem the trend of people leaving rural areas. The product of this idea is the scenery. Retired farmers are asked to manage the orchards to maintain the scenery. It will also give veteran farmers a reason to live. It will also lead to the revitalization of other industries, such as meals, transportation from the station, and accommodation, which will be ordered from local businesses. By rediscovering the spectacular rural scenery that we have taken for granted, a new business will be born that can also revitalize the region.
Comments and points regarding the award
They have carefully considered how to realize their ideas using various local resources. We highly praise the way they have formulated their ideas from the customer's perspective, asking, "How would a scene that is commonplace to us look to people outside the area?" The video presentation is also impactful and well-organized.
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