news release
Jul 19,2023
EF Polymer Co., Ltd. has now begun demonstration tests of our products in Minamidaito Village, Okinawa Prefecture. By applying EF polymers to farmland, we investigate crop growth conditions in regions affected by droughts and aim to solve the problem of water scarcity in agriculture.
Minamidaito Island is a remote island surrounded by rich seas located east of the main island of Okinawa, and is an area where the fishing industry and sugar cane production are thriving. From the beginning of 2023 to the end of June, a record light rain of 38% * of normal rainfall has continued on Minamidaito Island. As the drought spreads on farmland, the water level in reservoirs also drops, and the situation where sufficient water cannot be provided to crops continues, which has had a serious impact on crop growth. Furthermore, fertilizer prices have skyrocketed due to the effects of recent social conditions, and there is a need to improve the efficiency of the use of water resources and fertilizer.
With the cooperation of Agri Support Minamidaito Co., Ltd., which supports farmers in the Minamidaito region, we will demonstrate the effects on growing sugarcane using EF polymers on approximately 1.2 ha of farmland on the island. For sugarcane planted today, the height, number of stems, diameter, etc. of the crop will be checked as progress during harvesting from the end of 2024 to the beginning of the following year, and finally the effects on yield will be investigated after harvesting.
EF Polymer is a 100% organic super absorbent polymer (SAP) made from inedible parts of fruits such as orange peel. When EF polymer is applied to farmland, it has the effect of improving soil water retention and fertilizer holding capacity, and in addition to saving about 40% water and fertilizer savings of about 20%, yield increases of 10 to 15% can be expected. Furthermore, our naturally derived polymers last for 6 months and are completely biodegradable in soil over 12 months.
EF Polymer's Chief Operations Officer (COO) Shimoji KunitakuIt is stated as follows. “Even in Japan, where water resources are abundant, the number of regions affected by droughts and unstable rain due to recent climate change is increasing, and efficient use of resources is becoming even more important. There has also been an increase in the number of cases where we receive inquiries from farmers in Okinawa Prefecture. Through this demonstration experiment, I hope it will help farmers affected by the drought. Furthermore, EF Polymer will continue to work to support agricultural workers facing similar issues not only within Okinawa Prefecture, but all over Japan.”
About EF Polymer Co., Ltd.
We have developed an environmentally friendly 100% organic super absorbent polymer (SAP) that upcycled the residue of inedible parts of fruits, such as orange peels, and is expanding it globally as an agricultural material. Our company was established in 2019 by Indian entrepreneur Narayan Lal Gharjhar, who was 21 years old at the time, through the OIST Innovation Accelerator implemented by the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) with support from Okinawa Prefecture. Currently, a team of about 30 people from India and Japan is working together to aim to become a solution leading to environmental problems centered on water shortages through the dissemination of our products.
