Tohoku students start agroforestry to turn Sendai woods into food source

A group of university students has launched an ambitious project to purchase and protect a 20-hectare forest in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, aiming to transform it into a sustainable food source and a national model for conservation.

The initiative, named Agroforestry Lab, was established by students from Tohoku University with backgrounds in the environmental group Fridays For Future Sendai and the non-profit NPO Food Bank Sendai. The project directly counters the threat of deforestation from large-scale development, including proposals for soil extraction and mega-solar power plants that have become common across Japan.

The students realised that protesting against destructive projects was not enough. Having witnessed forests being cleared for development, they decided to create a proactive solution. Their goal is to establish a working model for sustainable forest management that prevents land from being sold for development.

Koichiro Shigihara, a doctoral student at Tohoku University and a founding member, explained the group’s motivation. “We have seen that just saying ‘NO’ has its limits,” Shigihara stated. “Because a model for forest management and conservation has not been established in Japan, we are stuck in a situation where we can only stop forest destruction like a game of whack-a-mole.”
The project will implement agroforestry, or “forest farming,” a method that cultivates food within a forest ecosystem. This low-input approach enhances biodiversity and soil health without the need for chemical fertilisers or pesticides. The food produced, including vegetables and fruits, will support the activities of Food Bank Sendai, addressing local food poverty amid rising prices.

To fund the purchase of the land and necessary equipment, Agroforestry Lab has launched a crowdfunding campaign seeking ¥6 million. The funds are allocated for the land purchase (¥4 million), farming tools and machinery (¥1.5 million), and the creation of a website and educational content (¥0.5 million).

The large-scale project also includes a significant educational component. The group plans to host participatory workshops, both online and in-person, to share their progress and techniques. This will allow people from across the country to learn about forest conservation and agroforestry, with the hope of inspiring similar projects elsewhere.

The project has garnered support from prominent figures. Tatsushi Fujiwara, a professor at Kyoto University, praised the students’ vision. “These young people are not just trying to protect the mountains and fields that are being lost; they are trying to fundamentally change the world with them,” he said. “This is no longer a matter of being admirable or highly conscious. It is, rather, a beautiful thing that makes you shiver and tremble.”

Agroforestry Lab presents a tangible alternative to destructive land use. If you are interested in supporting these youth leaders and help steer land use towards an environmental positive future, you can join their crowdfunding project on the CAMPFIRE platform.