Mass Production of Endangered Suizenjinori Algae Achieved in Kumamoto for Disaster Recovery
Researchers and local farmers in Minamiaso Village, Kumamoto Prefecture, have successfully achieved the mass production of Suizenjinori, an endangered freshwater algae species. This breakthrough aims to support the economic recovery of the region following the devastating 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake. Suizenjinori, designated a national natural monument in 1924, had faced severe decline due to eutrophication and reduced water flow, leading to its classification as an endangered species in 1997. Professor Emeritus Minoru Fukusaki of Tokai University initiated the project to create a specialty product using the area's clean water resources. The algae is now being cultivated for commercial use, including potential applications in high-end cosmetics and local food products. This initiative represents a significant step in revitalizing the local economy while preserving a rare ecological asset. The success follows years of trial and error in cultivating the delicate species outside its limited natural habitats, which are currently restricted to specific areas in Fukuoka Prefecture and protected botanical gardens.
Wire timeline
Mass Production of Endangered Suizenjinori Algae Achieved in Kumamoto for Disaster Recovery
Researchers and local farmers in Minamiaso Village, Kumamoto Prefecture, have successfully achieved the mass production of Suizenjinori, an endangered freshwater algae species. This breakthrough aims to support the economic recovery of the region following the devastating 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake. Suizenjinori, designated a national natural monument in 1924, had faced severe decline due to eutrophication and reduced water flow, leading to its classification as an endangered species in 1997. Professor Emeritus Minoru Fukusaki of Tokai University initiated the project to create a specialty product using the area's clean water resources. The algae is now being cultivated for commercial use, including potential applications in high-end cosmetics and local food products. This initiative represents a significant step in revitalizing the local economy while preserving a rare ecological asset. The success follows years of trial and error in cultivating the delicate species outside its limited natural habitats, which are currently restricted to specific areas in Fukuoka Prefecture and protected botanical gardens.
asahi