What's new

What's new. Here you will find hot items of interest that have recently come up

Japanese city to formulate rainwater management plan — Last modified March 02, 2010 13:19

In the wake of increasingly frequent sudden, localized rainstorms throughout Japan, the City of Anjo, Aichi Prefecture, started discussions in September 2008 to establish a rainwater management master plan. The city was hit by heavy rains in late August 2008.

Grass on car roof! — Last modified February 05, 2010 08:02

Mr. Mitsuji Chinen of Naha-city, Okinawa, successfully grew grass on his car roof, maintaining a comfortable interior temperature without using the air-conditioner even in summer. The idea occurred to him in 2007 when his car's air-conditioner broke down and he needed to do something to keep the car cool. Since his mother dislikes air-conditioning, he decided to create a condition similar to tree shade. The solution he came up with, which he thought would be both aesthetic and ecological, was to make a garden on his car roof, and he chose grass for a charming look.

Japanese Consumer's Union Finds GM Canola Growing in Chiba Prefectur — Last modified December 23, 2009 08:47

The Seikatsu Club Consumers' Co-operative Union (SCCU) of Japan conducted a survey, on April 14 and 16, 2009, and an analysis of canola plants for potential spread of genetically modified varieties near the port of Chiba, one of the nation's major distribution centers for shipping canola seeds, as well as in the city itself. The SCCU discovered that five out of seven samples found growing in the city and two out of three near the port tested positive for genetic alteration.

Climate Change Projects Using the 'Co-Benefits' Approach — Last modified October 13, 2009 11:59

The Japanese Ministry of the Environment announced on June 12, 2009, the release of a manual for using quantitative methods to evaluate projects that use the co-benefits approach to address climate change, particularly under the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).

Food Supply Sources — Last modified April 15, 2009 08:27

Food Supply Sources. An example of urban agriculture for disaster preparedness.

Japanese Researchers Discover Method to Stop Cattle from Emitting Methane — Last modified March 31, 2009 08:53

A research team led by Professor Junichi Takahashi at Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine has discovered that cattle developing nitrite poisoning do not release methane by belching.

Plants Watering Plants -- Nagoya University Scientist Discovers a 'Bio-Sprinkler' Effect — Last modified March 31, 2009 08:31

Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) announced on August 26, 2008, that Katsuya Yano, an assistant professor of Nagoya University Graduate School, has discovered a "bio-sprinkler" effect while doing research as a part of NEDO's subsidized projects

Manufacturer Saving Energy by Growing Vertical Gardens on Factory Walls — Last modified March 30, 2009 15:24

During the summer of 2008, Kyocera Corp., a Japanese manufacturer of electronic components and photovoltaic systems, created "green curtains" of plants climbing the outer walls of five factories in Japan, including those in Okaya, Nagano Prefecture and Gamo, Shiga Prefecture.

Kubota Launches Project to Support Agriculture, Protect Environment in Local Communities in Japan — Last modified November 28, 2008 14:09

Kubota, a major farm equipment manufacturer in Japan, announced on May 16, 2008, its Kubota E-Project to support activities that help revitalize agriculture among farmers, local communities, and schools.

FAO calls for review of biofuel policies and subsidies — Last modified October 08, 2008 15:10

Biofuel policies and subsidies should be urgently reviewed in order to preserve the goal of world food security, protect poor farmers, promote broad-based rural development and ensure environmental sustainability, FAO said today in a new edition of its annual flagship publication The State of Food and Agriculture (SOFA) 2008.