The Mitsui & Co. Environment Fund
Introduction to Grant Projects
Iwate University, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Environmental Sciences for Sustainability
Establishing a system for recycling wood debris and building a wood biomass society in order to revive forest-related industry in Iwate Prefecture coastal areas
Activity grant
- Project Description
Plywood processing is one of the core industries along the coastline of Iwate Prefecture, but the Great East Japan Earthquake has had a devastating effect on it. Following the earthquake, attention has been focused on whether wood from the debris can be reused as a resource, and this project aims to provide a springboard for industry revival by encouraging the establishment of a recycling system, starting from the first stage of debris handling through to sorting and wooden board production. It also aims to revive struggling forestry businesses through woody biomass initiatives, revitalizing the region and encouraging the formation of an energy-efficient, low-carbon, resource-recycling society.
- Fields
- Preservation of surface soil and forestsEnergy problem
- Grant year
- FY2011 Activity Grants
- Grant term
- 3 years and 6 months
April 2011 - September 2014
- Grant amount
- 8,609,400 yen
- Activity region
- Coastal areas of Iwate Prefecture, Japan
Overview of the Organization
- Representative
- Noboru Sekino, professor
- Establishment
- 1949
- Establishment purpose
- Iwate University is a prefectural university established as a venue for education and research in pursuit of truth, and aims to create an academic culture which cultivates individuals who are broadly-educated but also possess a high-degree of specialisation. As a university open to communities in the region, it also aims to apply the results of its academic and research success to contribute to improving regional culture and developing an international society.
- Main area of activity
- Japan
- Staff
- 795 full-time staff members
- Annual operating budget
- 12.6 billion yen in 2008, 12.3 billion yen in 2009, 11.9 billion yen in 2010
- WEB site
- http://www.iwate-u.ac.jp/
- Collaborating organizations
- Miyako/Shimohei Monozukuri Network Sanrinbu-kai, Miyako Board, Yamauchi Corp., Hokuyo Plywood, Iwate Agro-Forestry Research Council (AFR), Iwate Woody Biomass Research Council
- Co-researchers
- Naoya Satta, professor, Hisayoshi Kofujita, associate professor, and Sachio Ito, assistant professor, Iwate University Faculty of Agriculture; Shinpei Uchida, associate professor, Iwate Prefectural University Morioka Junior College
- Recent activities
- From the time it was established, Iwate University has provided practical education with roots in the region that looks to contribute to the local community, and its mission is to find solidly-researched, scientific solutions for practical problems facing the community. Furthermore, it is commited to finding practical solutions to real problems through industry-academic partnership organizations, such as Iwate Network System (INS), centered around the Faculty of Engineering, and Iwate Agro-Forestry Research Council (AFR), centered around the Faculty of Agriculture.