JICA leads project to reprocess food waste

MANILA, Philippines — The local government of Mandaue, Cebu is working with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and two Japanese firms for a feasibility study to convert food waste to energy, soil conditioner or animal feeds to promote a circular economy and fight climate change.

JICA said the work on the feasibility study involves Japanese firms Guun Co. Ltd. and Takematsu Shoji Co. Ltd. as well as the Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office (MCENRO).

“JICA welcomes the efforts of the local government of Mandaue, specifically MCENRO, to work with us and with Japanese firms for a feasibility study on recycling biodegradable wastes,” JICA senior representative Oshima Jiro said.

“This partnership continues JICA and Cebu’s long-standing cooperation to make the latter greener, more livable, and climate resilient,” Oshima added.

Under the initiative, Guun and Takematsu Shoji would share their technologies to turn middle or low-quality food waste to alternative fuel, soil conditioner, or high quality food waste to animal feeds.

Both firms are known for their expertise in waste management.

Headquartered in Yokohama City in Japan, Gunn has over 20 years of experience in recycling waste into fuel. It was involved in the solid waste management and resource recycling for Cebu’s Inayawan landfill.

Meanwhile, Takematsu Shoji has operated a large-scale food waste to animal feeds recycling facility in Yokohama City.

JICA believes the cooperation could help in efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and mitigate climate change in the country.

The initiative is part of a program being implemented by JICA with the private sector to use Japanese technologies and ideas to offer solutions to challenges like waste management.

Other projects being implemented under the JICA’s partnership program with Japanese companies in the Philippines include disaster management using artificial intelligence, renewable energy through solar power and agroindustry development using Japanese technology.