Can we stop extreme weather with "charcoal"? A new approach to tripling crop yields and containing CO₂ – Latest article now available on the special website "The Editorial Office of Questions".

We have published the latest article "Stopping Extreme Weather with Charcoal? Triple Crop Yields and New Common Knowledge to Contain CO₂" (Faculty of Science and Engineering Department of Green Technology: Professor Shinjiro Sato) on our university's special website, 'Question Editorial Room.'

This article focuses on "biochar," which is attracting global attention in response to increasingly severe extreme weather, and clearly explains how simply spreading it on soil can permanently trap CO₂ and increase crop yields by two to three times. It also introduces ideas for addressing environmental issues by utilizing everyday "charcoal," covering the behind-the-scenes of projects that dramatically improved food crises and environmental issues in Africa and Ethiopia, the power of charcoal to remove harmful substances in water, and even measures against global warming that individuals can easily implement in home gardening.

'Question Editorial Room' is a social web magazine where our university researchers provide clear explanations based on their expert knowledge, starting from the question 'why?' that arises from news and everyday events. Its purpose is to open university research not within its specialized field but as 'knowledge' that can be shared with society.

Table of Contents for this Article

1. Can global warming be stopped simply by sprinkling it on the soil?
2. Triple crop yields! Charcoal saves Ethiopia
3. It also adsorbs harmful substances! The amazing power of charcoal.

Lead paragraph of this article

Extreme weather events such as heat waves and heavy snowfalls are becoming increasingly serious. Are you feeling anxious and wondering, "What can I do?" The world is now paying attention to a magical type of charcoal called "biochar." Simply spreading it on the soil can semi-permanently seal in CO₂ and has the power to increase crop yields by two to three times.

In this interview, we spoke with Professor Shinjiro Sato, who has dedicated many years to research in this field, about everything from climate change countermeasures that can be implemented at home to the story behind a project that averted Ethiopia's food crisis. We unravel the surprising wisdom of how something as common as charcoal can turn the Earth's crisis into an opportunity.

Chair and Professor

Shinjiro Sato

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Specialized Field

Soil chemistry, soil physics, biochar, waste treatment, biomass reuse, methane fermentation digestate, tropical soil, tropical forest, plant cultivation, organic fertilizer, slow-release fertilizer, nutrient circulation, heavy metals, pollution treatment, phytoremediation

Research theme

1. Effective use of organic waste in soil for the creation of a recycling-oriented society
   - Soil improvement effect and crop production by biochar
   - Fertilization of crops using methane fermentation digestate
2. Tropical Soil Conservation