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It's cheap, recycled, and has centuries of tradition: "shimogoe" or "fertiliser from a person's bottom" is finding new favour in Japan as Ukraine&nbsp;war has led to hike&nbsp;in the price of chemical alternatives.

As in several parts of the world, the use of "night soil" to fertilise crops was once common in Japan.

However, the advent of sewage systems and treatment facilities, as well as chemical fertilisers, saw it fall out of fashion.

About a decade ago, Japanese treatment facilities wondered if they could revive interest to avoid sewage sludge disposal — a costly and potentially environmentally damaging process.

But enthusiasm was limited until Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent the cost of chemical fertilisers soaring.

That has been a bonanza for a facility in northern Japan's Tome, where sales of shimogoe were up 160 per cent year-on-year by March 2023.

For the first time since the city began producing the fertiliser in 2010, it has sold out.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-join-ukraine-war-609522">Despite government's warning, Japanese men join Ukraine war</a>

The demand is easy to explain, said facility vice president Toshiaki Kato. "Our fertiliser is popular because it is cheap, and it is helping farmers cut soaring costs," he told AFP.

"It is also good for the environment."

Made of a combination of treated sewage sludge from septic tanks and human waste from cesspits, the fertiliser goes for 160 yen ($1.10) per 15 kg.

That's about a tenth of the price of products made from imported raw materials.

In southwestern Japan's Saga too, officials report sales are up two to three times.

And dozens of tour groups from municipalities elsewhere in the country have visited, eager to replicate their programme.

<h2>Historic origins</h2>

Shimogoe was a key fertiliser in Japan's pre-modern Edo era, said Arata Kobayashi, a fertiliser specialist who has written journal articles on the subject.

In the early 18th century, the one million residents of Tokyo — then called Edo — "produced" an estimated 500,000 tonnes of fertiliser a year.

It was big business, involving gatherers, transporters and farmers, "and all of them benefited from the recycling system," Kobayashi said.

They "didn't create a recycling system on purpose... it was the result of everyone pursuing profit."

Japan's government has encouraged the revival, citing environmental benefits and concerns about food security since Russia's invasion.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries hopes to double animal manure and human waste use by 2030, with a goal of them accounting for 40 per cent of all fertiliser use in Japan.

In Miura outside Tokyo, vacuum trucks carrying human waste arrive one after another at a treatment facility.

Water is removed and then bacteria ferment the remaining solids in huge tanks.

Methane produced during the process is burned to supply the facility's hot water and electricity, and the final product is a soil-like powder that can be spread on fields.

"We produce 500 tonnes of fertiliser annually," said Kenichi Ryose, facility manager at Miura Biomass Centre.

"This fertiliser is particularly good for leaf vegetables, like cabbage," he added.

Ryose said "harmful materials like heavy metals are removed from processed sewage sludge before arriving," at the plant.&nbsp;

In the United States, there have been recent concerns about the levels of so-called forever chemicals (PFAS) in fertiliser made from sewage.

An environment ministry official said similar concerns had not been reported in Japan, but noted there are no current guidelines for PFAS levels in soil.

"We're in the process of developing a scientifically reliable way to measure PFAS and studying how to regulate it," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

<h2>'Dirty mud'</h2>

The sun is shining as the trucks arrive, and despite the facility's odour-absorbing machines, a distinct aroma fills the air.

The smell has proved something of a problem, admitted Nobuyoshi Fujiwara, 41, who runs a lettuce farm in Yokosuka, north of Miura.

He started using Shimogoe last year, "because I wanted to cut costs and for the social good" of recycling waste.

But "we can't use it in fields near houses, because there are complaints about the smell".

"Also, you have to spread four or five times the volume that you use with regular chemical fertilisers," he explained.

That's the case for any type of manure but can be a turnoff for some farmers because it is more work.

He concedes that the fertiliser faces something of a branding issue.

"The Chinese characters that are used for sludge — 'dirty mud' — are not great," he said.

"Even though we produce safe food, I imagine that for those who don't know much about it, the impressions people have of fertiliser made from human faeces might not be good."

He doesn't want to hide his use of the fertiliser though. In fact, he would like to see it publicised.&nbsp;"An official certification system would be helpful to promote our produce," he said.

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It's cheap, recycled, and has centuries of tradition: "shimogoe" or "fertiliser from a person's bottom" is finding new favour in Japan as Ukraine war has led to hike in the price of chemical alternatives.

It's cheap, recycled, and has centuries of tradition: "shimogoe" or "fertiliser from a person's bottom" is finding new favour in Japan as Ukraine war has led to hike in the price of chemical alternatives. As in several parts of the world, the use of "night soil" to fertilise crops was once common in Japan. However, the advent of sewage systems and treatment facilities, as well as chemical fertilisers, saw it fall out of fashion. About a decade ago, Japanese treatment facilities wondered if they could revive interest to avoid sewage sludge disposal — a costly and potentially environmentally damaging process. But enthusiasm was limited until Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent the cost of chemical fertilisers soaring. That has been a bonanza for a facility in northern Japan's Tome, where sales of shimogoe were up 160 per cent year-on-year by March 2023. For the first time since the city began producing the fertiliser in 2010, it has sold out. Also read | Despite government's warning, Japanese men join Ukraine war The demand is easy to explain, said facility vice president Toshiaki Kato. "Our fertiliser is popular because it is cheap, and it is helping farmers cut soaring costs," he told AFP. "It is also good for the environment." Made of a combination of treated sewage sludge from septic tanks and human waste from cesspits, the fertiliser goes for 160 yen ($1.10) per 15 kg. That's about a tenth of the price of products made from imported raw materials. In southwestern Japan's Saga too, officials report sales are up two to three times. And dozens of tour groups from municipalities elsewhere in the country have visited, eager to replicate their programme. Historic origins Shimogoe was a key fertiliser in Japan's pre-modern Edo era, said Arata Kobayashi, a fertiliser specialist who has written journal articles on the subject. In the early 18th century, the one million residents of Tokyo — then called Edo — "produced" an estimated 500,000 tonnes of fertiliser a year. It was big business, involving gatherers, transporters and farmers, "and all of them benefited from the recycling system," Kobayashi said. They "didn't create a recycling system on purpose... it was the result of everyone pursuing profit." Japan's government has encouraged the revival, citing environmental benefits and concerns about food security since Russia's invasion. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries hopes to double animal manure and human waste use by 2030, with a goal of them accounting for 40 per cent of all fertiliser use in Japan. In Miura outside Tokyo, vacuum trucks carrying human waste arrive one after another at a treatment facility. Water is removed and then bacteria ferment the remaining solids in huge tanks. Methane produced during the process is burned to supply the facility's hot water and electricity, and the final product is a soil-like powder that can be spread on fields. "We produce 500 tonnes of fertiliser annually," said Kenichi Ryose, facility manager at Miura Biomass Centre. "This fertiliser is particularly good for leaf vegetables, like cabbage," he added. Ryose said "harmful materials like heavy metals are removed from processed sewage sludge before arriving," at the plant. In the United States, there have been recent concerns about the levels of so-called forever chemicals (PFAS) in fertiliser made from sewage. An environment ministry official said similar concerns had not been reported in Japan, but noted there are no current guidelines for PFAS levels in soil. "We're in the process of developing a scientifically reliable way to measure PFAS and studying how to regulate it," he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'Dirty mud' The sun is shining as the trucks arrive, and despite the facility's odour-absorbing machines, a distinct aroma fills the air. The smell has proved something of a problem, admitted Nobuyoshi Fujiwara, 41, who runs a lettuce farm in Yokosuka, north of Miura. He started using Shimogoe last year, "because I wanted to cut costs and for the social good" of recycling waste. But "we can't use it in fields near houses, because there are complaints about the smell". "Also, you have to spread four or five times the volume that you use with regular chemical fertilisers," he explained. That's the case for any type of manure but can be a turnoff for some farmers because it is more work. He concedes that the fertiliser faces something of a branding issue. "The Chinese characters that are used for sludge — 'dirty mud' — are not great," he said. "Even though we produce safe food, I imagine that for those who don't know much about it, the impressions people have of fertiliser made from human faeces might not be good." He doesn't want to hide his use of the fertiliser though. In fact, he would like to see it publicised. "An official certification system would be helpful to promote our produce," he said. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

As prices soar, Japan returns to fertiliser made from human waste

In order to address the twin challenges of climate change and malnutrition, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched 35 crop varieties with special traits, saying that science and technology are being used on priority for solutions to tackle the climate change impact on agriculture.

These special traits crop varieties also include those that address the anti-nutritional factors found in some crops that adversely affect human and animal health.

Stating that climate change is adversely impacting agriculture, Modi said, “Due to climate change, new types of pests, new diseases, epidemics are coming. Due to this, there is a big threat to the health of humans and livestock and crops are also being affected.”

“Intensive research on these aspects is necessary continuously. When science, government and society work together, it gets even better results. This nexus of farmers and scientists will further strengthen the nation to face new challenges,” PM Modi said while addressing the nation via video conferencing.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-farmers-stage-nationwide-protests-against-reforms-416365">Indian farmers stage nationwide protests against reforms</a>

The prime minister also interacted with farmers from different states to take stock of how government schemes have benefited them.

During the interaction, the farmers also shared how they adopted new farm and processing techniques even in different terrains.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/why-international-politics-over-indian-farmers-is-a-dangerous-trend-348199">Why international politics over Indian farmers is a dangerous trend</a>

These special varieties of seeds have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), an autonomous body responsible for co-ordinating agricultural education and research in India.

It has produced the crop varieties, the body stated, with specific features to meet the twin concerns of climate change and malnutrition.

The 35 such crop varieties with ‘drought-tolerant’ characteristics include chickpea, wilt- and early-maturing soybean, disease-resistant rice varieties, and biofortified wheat, pearl millet, maize, and chickpea, quinoa, buckwheat, winged bean, and faba.

(With inputs from agencies)

In order to address the twin challenges of climate change and malnutrition, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched 35 crop varieties with special traits, saying that science and technology are being used on priority for solutions to tackle the climate change impact on agriculture.

In order to address the twin challenges of climate change and malnutrition, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched 35 crop varieties with special traits, saying that science and technology are being used on priority for solutions to tackle the climate change impact on agriculture. These special traits crop varieties also include those that address the anti-nutritional factors found in some crops that adversely affect human and animal health. Stating that climate change is adversely impacting agriculture, Modi said, “Due to climate change, new types of pests, new diseases, epidemics are coming. Due to this, there is a big threat to the health of humans and livestock and crops are also being affected.” “Intensive research on these aspects is necessary continuously. When science, government and society work together, it gets even better results. This nexus of farmers and scientists will further strengthen the nation to face new challenges,” PM Modi said while addressing the nation via video conferencing. Also read | Indian farmers stage nationwide protests against reforms The prime minister also interacted with farmers from different states to take stock of how government schemes have benefited them. During the interaction, the farmers also shared how they adopted new farm and processing techniques even in different terrains. Also read | Why international politics over Indian farmers is a dangerous trend These special varieties of seeds have been developed by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), an autonomous body responsible for co-ordinating agricultural education and research in India. It has produced the crop varieties, the body stated, with specific features to meet the twin concerns of climate change and malnutrition. The 35 such crop varieties with ‘drought-tolerant’ characteristics include chickpea, wilt- and early-maturing soybean, disease-resistant rice varieties, and biofortified wheat, pearl millet, maize, and chickpea, quinoa, buckwheat, winged bean, and faba. (With inputs from agencies)

India using scientific solutions to tackle climate change impact on agriculture: PM Modi

Much has been made of the royal proportions of Josh O’Connor’s ears: Like those of Prince Charles, whom he plays in 'The Crown,' they stick out.

But ears do not a king-in-waiting make. Rather, the actor concluded, it’s his posture.

Mostly upright when he debuted in Season 3, playing Charles as a Cambridge student, O’Connor has since charted the prince’s emotional state through a progressively pronounced stoop, inching his neck forward as expectations from the House of Windsor gnawed at Charles’ contentment. By the time Mummy — Queen Elizabeth II, played by Olivia Colman — places the coronet upon her son’s head at his investiture as the Prince of Wales, you wonder if he has the strength to support it.

“It has to do with the more weight on his shoulders, the more it brings him down, the more his neck comes out,” O’Connor said. “By the end he’s pathetic, sort of like a crumpled man.”

It gets even worse in Season 4 of 'The Crown,' now on Netflix, which brings a less sympathetic Charles, surly and sniveling as he bridles at his marriage to the limelight-stealing Princess Diana (Emma Corrin) while not so secretly yearning for Camilla Parker Bowles (Emerald Fennell), the love that never quite got away. (And who will presumably marry Charles in some future season, as she did in real life in 2005.)

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-the-crown-season-4-review-show-delivers-its-best-as-diana-thatcher-take-away-the-queens-thunder-343648">'The Crown' season 4 review: Show delivers its best as Diana, Thatcher take away the Queen's thunder</a>

For O’Connor, 30, this season is the end of his run in a role he never really sought. A self-described liberal left-winger, the actor declined to read for Charles when he was initially asked.

“I thought, I can’t add anything to this,” he said in a video call from London. “I’m a republican. I’m not interested in the royal family.”

But he eventually acquiesced, and Peter Morgan, the show’s creator and writer, presented him with a scene. In it, Charles compares himself to a character in Saul Bellow’s “Dangling Man,” waiting to be drafted because going to war will give his life meaning.

“And then he says, ‘I’m essentially waiting for my mother to die in order for my life to take meaning,’” O’Connor said. “I read that line and I was like, ‘Well, that’s enough to get your teeth into.’”

The current season finds the prince increasingly exasperated with these circumstances, in terms of both the unhappy marriage that was thrust upon him and his continuing insignificance within the realm.

“We were telling a kind of unheard, voiceless Charles,” O’Connor said. “But that’s the beauty of it, that’s where he struggles: He doesn’t feel listened to.”

Charles isn’t imagining things. As his mother icily informs him in one gutting encounter, no one wants to hear his voice. &lt;em&gt;No one.&lt;/em&gt;

O’Connor and Colman had a running joke that all of their scenes together were variations on the same sad theme. “Charles comes in, says, ‘Mummy, I need to talk to you,’ and she says, ‘No,’ and then he leaves,” he explained. Over and over.

As the queen, Colman said, “my job was to be quite strong, but I found it quite hard not to give him a cuddle.” Method actors they were not. “The second they’d say cut, we’d go: ‘Should we have a cup of tea? There are biscuits on the craft table!’ We’d much rather have a giggle.”

“He’s one of the most beautiful actors to work opposite,” she added. “He’s out there with the greats, in my mind.”

O’Connor grew up happily as the middle of three brothers in Cheltenham, a spa town on the edge of the Cotswolds. He trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, whose alums include two of his idols, Pete Postlethwaite and Daniel Day-Lewis.

“Maybe it was a match made in heaven, I don’t know,” he said. “But I did love it.”

Not long after graduation, small TV roles in “Peaky Blinders” and “Ripper Street” trickled in. Eventually he snagged a lead as the oldest son in “The Durrells in Corfu,” a period drama by ITV and Masterpiece, about a British family’s move to the titular Greek island in the 1930s.

But his real breakthrough came in Francis Lee’s 2017 feature debut, “God’s Own Country.” O’Connor is scarcely recognizable as Johnny Saxby, a gay, brooding binge drinker toiling on his family’s Yorkshire farm, whose calcified heart is pried open by a Romanian migrant worker.

Lee had invited O’Connor to audition based on a photograph. “I liked his ears a lot,” he said. But the tape O’Connor sent was worrisome.

“He delivered this incredibly brilliant portrayal of an emotionally repressed and difficult man, and I thought he must just be playing himself,” he said. “And that concerned me slightly.”

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/the-crown-season-6-heres-everything-to-know-about-the-final-season-343447">'The Crown' Season 6: Here's everything to know about the final season</a>

When the two finally met, Lee was shocked “because in walks this incredibly funny, upbeat, polite, middle-class boy, which was a million miles away from the character that he was going to play,” he said. “He’s one of those rare actors that is a real shape-shifter.”

“God’s Own Country” earned O’Connor a British Independent Film Award for best actor in 2017. Two years later, he won another for “Only You,” about a couple struggling with infertility.

O’Connor debuted in “The Crown” in late 2019. Morgan can’t recall having considered anyone else for this iteration of Charles — or noticing O’Connor’s ears, although he imagines he must have.

Rather, “I was drawn to his sensitivity and the fact that he was complex but likable, and I just felt instantly intrigued,” Morgan said. “And the minute he started doing some readings for us, it was a no-brainer. He was a list of one.”

O’Connor had watched “The Crown” in support of his good friend Vanessa Kirby, who played Princess Margaret in Seasons 1 and 2. “And then I became a loyal fan,” he said. While he has difficulty aligning his belief in a classless society with the royal family, he doesn’t think “The Crown” glamorizes them, despite its pageantry and splendor.

“What Peter does is he strips all that back,” he said. “It’s about humans who struggle and have very odd relationships with their parents and power and politics. That’s the juice.

“But I think you can have those beliefs and have great respect and affection and love even for these people. I think the queen is an extraordinary woman. Time after time, lots of men have failed, and this one woman in power has been consistent and remained dutiful and generally apolitical.

“In that sense, I have huge respect for her — and for Charles, to be honest. I mean, Charles is another level of someone who’s literally been waiting his entire life for this moment that still hasn’t come.”

Much has been made of the royal proportions of Josh O’Connor’s ears: Like those of Prince Charles, whom he plays in 'The Crown,' they stick out. But ears do not a king-in-waiting make.

Much has been made of the royal proportions of Josh O’Connor’s ears: Like those of Prince Charles, whom he plays in 'The Crown,' they stick out. But ears do not a king-in-waiting make. Rather, the actor concluded, it’s his posture. Mostly upright when he debuted in Season 3, playing Charles as a Cambridge student, O’Connor has since charted the prince’s emotional state through a progressively pronounced stoop, inching his neck forward as expectations from the House of Windsor gnawed at Charles’ contentment. By the time Mummy — Queen Elizabeth II, played by Olivia Colman — places the coronet upon her son’s head at his investiture as the Prince of Wales, you wonder if he has the strength to support it. “It has to do with the more weight on his shoulders, the more it brings him down, the more his neck comes out,” O’Connor said. “By the end he’s pathetic, sort of like a crumpled man.” It gets even worse in Season 4 of 'The Crown,' now on Netflix, which brings a less sympathetic Charles, surly and sniveling as he bridles at his marriage to the limelight-stealing Princess Diana (Emma Corrin) while not so secretly yearning for Camilla Parker Bowles (Emerald Fennell), the love that never quite got away. (And who will presumably marry Charles in some future season, as she did in real life in 2005.) 'The Crown' season 4 review: Show delivers its best as Diana, Thatcher take away the Queen's thunder For O’Connor, 30, this season is the end of his run in a role he never really sought. A self-described liberal left-winger, the actor declined to read for Charles when he was initially asked. “I thought, I can’t add anything to this,” he said in a video call from London. “I’m a republican. I’m not interested in the royal family.” But he eventually acquiesced, and Peter Morgan, the show’s creator and writer, presented him with a scene. In it, Charles compares himself to a character in Saul Bellow’s “Dangling Man,” waiting to be drafted because going to war will give his life meaning. “And then he says, ‘I’m essentially waiting for my mother to die in order for my life to take meaning,’” O’Connor said. “I read that line and I was like, ‘Well, that’s enough to get your teeth into.’” The current season finds the prince increasingly exasperated with these circumstances, in terms of both the unhappy marriage that was thrust upon him and his continuing insignificance within the realm. “We were telling a kind of unheard, voiceless Charles,” O’Connor said. “But that’s the beauty of it, that’s where he struggles: He doesn’t feel listened to.” Charles isn’t imagining things. As his mother icily informs him in one gutting encounter, no one wants to hear his voice. No one. O’Connor and Colman had a running joke that all of their scenes together were variations on the same sad theme. “Charles comes in, says, ‘Mummy, I need to talk to you,’ and she says, ‘No,’ and then he leaves,” he explained. Over and over. As the queen, Colman said, “my job was to be quite strong, but I found it quite hard not to give him a cuddle.” Method actors they were not. “The second they’d say cut, we’d go: ‘Should we have a cup of tea? There are biscuits on the craft table!’ We’d much rather have a giggle.” “He’s one of the most beautiful actors to work opposite,” she added. “He’s out there with the greats, in my mind.” O’Connor grew up happily as the middle of three brothers in Cheltenham, a spa town on the edge of the Cotswolds. He trained at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, whose alums include two of his idols, Pete Postlethwaite and Daniel Day-Lewis. “Maybe it was a match made in heaven, I don’t know,” he said. “But I did love it.” Not long after graduation, small TV roles in “Peaky Blinders” and “Ripper Street” trickled in. Eventually he snagged a lead as the oldest son in “The Durrells in Corfu,” a period drama by ITV and Masterpiece, about a British family’s move to the titular Greek island in the 1930s. But his real breakthrough came in Francis Lee’s 2017 feature debut, “God’s Own Country.” O’Connor is scarcely recognizable as Johnny Saxby, a gay, brooding binge drinker toiling on his family’s Yorkshire farm, whose calcified heart is pried open by a Romanian migrant worker. Lee had invited O’Connor to audition based on a photograph. “I liked his ears a lot,” he said. But the tape O’Connor sent was worrisome. “He delivered this incredibly brilliant portrayal of an emotionally repressed and difficult man, and I thought he must just be playing himself,” he said. “And that concerned me slightly.” 'The Crown' Season 6: Here's everything to know about the final season When the two finally met, Lee was shocked “because in walks this incredibly funny, upbeat, polite, middle-class boy, which was a million miles away from the character that he was going to play,” he said. “He’s one of those rare actors that is a real shape-shifter.” “God’s Own Country” earned O’Connor a British Independent Film Award for best actor in 2017. Two years later, he won another for “Only You,” about a couple struggling with infertility. O’Connor debuted in “The Crown” in late 2019. Morgan can’t recall having considered anyone else for this iteration of Charles — or noticing O’Connor’s ears, although he imagines he must have. Rather, “I was drawn to his sensitivity and the fact that he was complex but likable, and I just felt instantly intrigued,” Morgan said. “And the minute he started doing some readings for us, it was a no-brainer. He was a list of one.” O’Connor had watched “The Crown” in support of his good friend Vanessa Kirby, who played Princess Margaret in Seasons 1 and 2. “And then I became a loyal fan,” he said. While he has difficulty aligning his belief in a classless society with the royal family, he doesn’t think “The Crown” glamorizes them, despite its pageantry and splendor. “What Peter does is he strips all that back,” he said. “It’s about humans who struggle and have very odd relationships with their parents and power and politics. That’s the juice. “But I think you can have those beliefs and have great respect and affection and love even for these people. I think the queen is an extraordinary woman. Time after time, lots of men have failed, and this one woman in power has been consistent and remained dutiful and generally apolitical. “In that sense, I have huge respect for her — and for Charles, to be honest. I mean, Charles is another level of someone who’s literally been waiting his entire life for this moment that still hasn’t come.”

Josh O’Connor didn’t care about 'The Crown' until he became a Prince