FURUNO, Osaka Prefecture and Osaka University Sign a Major Partnership to Combat Marine Plastic Waste in Osaka Bay
Background Leading to the Partnership Agreement
Osaka Prefecture is promoting the "Osaka Marine Waste Zero Plan" to realize the society envisioned in the "Osaka Blue Ocean Vision" shared at the G20 Osaka Summit, which aims for "zero new pollution from marine plastic waste by 2050." Regarding plastic waste flowing into Osaka Bay, efforts have been made to understand the actual situation through collaboration with Osaka University Graduate School of Engineering, including the development and utilization of AI analysis technology for disaster prevention camera images installed in rivers. However, there were challenges in understanding the amount of underwater waste. Meanwhile, our company possesses high-precision ultrasonic technology such as fish finders, and the three parties have reached this business partnership agreement to solve social issues through cooperation and new technology development.
Approach and Strategy
Leveraging the strengths of each of the three parties, we will contribute to the realization of the "Osaka Blue Ocean Vision" based on the following approach:
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Osaka Prefecture Department of Environment, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Theme selection, evaluation and experimental site selection support, information dissemination to prefectural residents, coordination with municipalities within the prefecture
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Osaka University Graduate School of Engineering
Investigation and analysis of plastic waste on water surfaces, elucidation of marine and terrestrial plastic waste dynamics in the Osaka Bay watershed, advancement of estimation methods
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FURUNO
Investigation and analysis of underwater plastic waste, development of observation technology and network construction
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Development of observation technology to improve estimation accuracy of plastic waste flowing from rivers into Osaka Bay
- Develop new observation technology for waste outflow from rivers, targeting the Yodo River and Yamato River as main observation targets with large watershed populations that have not been surveyed before
- Develop observation system methods that improve the estimation accuracy of waste outflow from rivers, and consider deploying the developed observation system to multiple rivers to build a multi-point simultaneous observation network
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Information dissemination of research results based on business partnership
Promote external information dissemination to advance wide-area collaboration
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Awareness-raising for local residents regarding marine plastic issues
Promote awareness of marine plastic issues through events and environmental education to encourage behavioral change among individual residents
This agreement represents a major step toward promoting industry-academia-government initiatives through understanding the actual situation of marine waste, working toward the realization of the "Osaka Blue Ocean Vision." With the upcoming "Osaka-Kansai Expo" and "National Abundant Sea Creation Convention - Naniwa Sea Osaka Convention," we will continue working on environmental improvement of Osaka Bay, and we ask for your cooperation.
Including this AI analysis technology, we have been advancing research and human resource development for over 100 years through various approaches that consider the environment such as the "sea" while enriching society. We hope this initiative, where the three parties bring together their strengths to address social issues, will become a step toward realizing a sustainable society that spreads from Osaka to the world.
We are very pleased to be able to take a new step forward through this agreement signing. We are proud to be able to contribute to regional social development and technological innovation together with wonderful partners, Osaka Prefecture and Osaka University. Through this agreement, we intend to achieve even greater results and create a beneficial future for the local community.
2025 will see the Osaka-Kansai Expo, followed by the National Abundant Sea Creation Convention - Naniwa Sea Osaka Convention in the following year, providing an excellent opportunity for Osaka Bay to receive significant attention. We aim to realize a clean Osaka without waste in cities, rivers, and seas, working through three-party collaboration to reduce waste and build momentum.
Related Links
About the Business Partnership Agreement Signing Ceremony for the "Zero Marine Waste Osaka" Future Creation Project (Osaka Prefecture | Japanese Only)
https://www.pref.osaka.lg.jp/o120070/kankyohozen/osaka-wan/umigomizerokyotei.html
Related Sites
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Our initiative to safeguard and shape the future of our seasBecause we owe everything to the sea,We will shape a sustainable tomorrow for it. Through this initiative, We want to spread love for the seaby showing how vital yet fragile it is. This love will encourage protecting it and its ecosystem,as we protect what we cherish. And together, we will build the sea of tomorrow, sustainable, abundant, and intertwined with us, humans.
