Commodities

A groundbreaking new food source called "Kin-pun" has been developed by a start-up firm affiliated with Keio University. This innovative product is made from a powdered form of the bacterium used for natto fermented soybeans, offering a sustainable and nutritious alternative to traditional protein sources.

Across Japan, initiatives are underway to utilize seaweed and seagrass for carbon dioxide absorption and capture, offering benefits like improved fisheries resources and seawater quality while combating climate change. These efforts involve trading blue carbon credits, restoring seaweed populations, and developing methods to measure and report blue carbon absorption.

A study by Hokkaido University researchers reveals a 30% decrease in drift ice thickness in the Sea of Okhotsk over 30 years, raising concerns about its future presence and potential impact on fisheries and the marine ecosystem. The study predicts a significant reduction in ice coverage by 2050, potentially leading to years with no drift ice reaching Hokkaido's coast.

Record-high ocean temperatures near Japan for the third consecutive year have negatively impacted fisheries and aquaculture industries, with warm-water fish like giant trevally and spangled emperor appearing in northern regions like the Tohoku region. This shift in fish populations is attributed to the changing direction of the Black Current, which has been flowing further north along the coast instead of turning eastward as usual.

Heavy snowfall near the Atal Tunnel in Kullu stranded over 3500 tourists, prompting a rescue operation by the Kullu District Police who successfully evacuated 600 vehicles and 3500 tourists. Meanwhile, fresh snowfall in Kupwara and Bandipora districts led to school closures in Reasi and the rescue of stranded vehicles by the Border Roads Organisation.