SDGs Online Roundtable (5th)] (2021.5.27)

On Thursday, May 27th, we held the 5th SDGs Online Roundtable Discussion. This time, Mr. Katsuya Aizawa, representative of Aizawa Shokusan, a natto producer in the Himeji area, spoke about natto production and soybean farming, and 26 participants thought about the SDGs.
Mr. Aizawa said that he actively uses local ingredients, which leads to food mileage (the idea of reducing the environmental impact of transporting raw materials by using crops grown nearby), and that he also manufactures organic natto by obtaining JAS organic product certification. He also explained that weed and insect control is a major issue in organic farming, which inevitably affects the shape quality and yield of crops, and the production status of genetically modified soybeans in the world.
In the discussion that followed, he talked about the following ideas and actions that organic farmers should take to ensure sustainable farming: a yield of 40% is good compared to the general method; the size of farmland should be determined by calculating backwards from the amount of harvest needed to make a living for the family; information should always be collected with antennas; and in the future, AI and IT technologies should be utilized. In the future, we will also utilize AI and IT technologies. Those involved in education said that they would like elementary school children to have the experience of growing vegetables, and that they would like them to know how hard it is to grow vegetables and the importance of life as a personal matter. It was a meaningful opportunity to exchange views and opinions with the participants. Thank you very much, Mr. Aizawa and everyone who participated.

SDGs Online Roundtable Meeting Future Schedule
19:00 – 20:30 (Online connection from 18:50, extended up to 21:00)
Thursday, June 24: Mr. Eishei So (Representative Director of Roshoki Chairman of Nankinmachi Shopping Street Promotion Association)
Thursday, July 22: Mr. Hayato Mori (Representative Director, Mori Kosan Co., Ltd.)
Thursday, August 26: Mr. Soji Nakagai (Former Mayor of Toyooka City)