Soka University Doctoral Student Receives First Place Poster Award at CANVAS 2025 in the United States.

CANVAS 2025, formerly known as the ASA, CSSA, and SSSA International Annual Meeting, is one of the world’s largest and most influential conferences in agriculture, soil science, crop science, and environmental research. The 2025 meeting was held from November 9–12 in Salt Lake City, Utah, bringing together researchers and graduate students from around the world to present cutting-edge findings in fields such as nutrient management, soil ecology, agricultural production, and biochar applications.

In the “Biochar: Agronomic and Environmental Uses” section of the conference,
Mr. Wutisirirattanachai Tassapak, a second-year doctoral student in the Graduate School of Engineering at Soka University, received the First Place Poster Award.
His presentation, titled “Optimization and Environmental Evaluation of Solid Fuel and Liquid Fertilizer Produced via Co-Hydrothermal Carbonization of High-Moisture Biomass,”
evaluated the potential to convert high-moisture biomass into solid fuel and nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer through hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), contributing to a circular approach to energy and nutrient recycling. Part of this research was conducted under the SATREPS–EARTH Project (JST/JICA).

Mr. Wutisirirattanachai commented:
“The vast landscapes and beautiful natural scenery of Utah were truly refreshing, and being able to revisit and have deeper discussions with researchers I met last year made this conference especially meaningful.
The sessions on biochar and nutrient management were highly stimulating, offering new insights that will inform my future research.
During the poster session, I was able to communicate directly with participants, and I am deeply honored to have received the First Place Award.
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Professor Shinjiro Sato for his continual guidance, to my laboratory colleagues for their support, and to my family for always encouraging me from afar.
Moving forward, I hope to continue taking steady steps toward growth as a researcher.”

This achievement highlights the international recognition of Soka University’s research efforts in resource circulation and environmental sustainability, and further contributions from Mr. Wutisirirattanachai are greatly anticipated.