Commercialization of Horticultural Soil and Mixed Fertilizer Using Microbial Phosphate Fertilizer Derived from Sewage Sludge Resource Recovery System 'J-COMBI®'

Nippon Steel Engineering Co., Ltd. has announced the launch of 'OH!DAY!® Kitakyushu,' a microbial phosphate fertilizer produced by its sewage sludge resource recovery system 'J-COMBI®,' and the commercialization of 'OH!DAY!®SOIL' (horticultural soil) and 'OH!DAY!®888' (mixed fertilizer), which incorporate this product.

These products are the result of joint research between the City of Kitakyushu and Kitakyushu J-COMBI System Co., Ltd., regarding the fertilizer use of granulated dried matter produced by J-COMBI®. Full-scale market distribution is planned for the first half of 2026. This marks the first time in Japan that horticultural soil and mixed fertilizer have been produced using microbial phosphate fertilizer derived from J-COMBI®.

Currently, Japan relies heavily on imports for most of its fertilizer raw materials, making the country vulnerable to international market conditions and the policies of exporting nations. The Japanese government has set goals to double the use of compost and sewage sludge resources by 2030, increase the share of domestic resources in fertilizer use (phosphorus-based) to 40%, and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers by 30% by 2050 (compared to 2016). The utilization of sewage sludge as fertilizer is being re-evaluated as an important initiative for reducing overseas dependency on fertilizer materials and constructing a resource-recycling society.

Through hybrid utilization of sewage sludge resources enabled by J-COMBI®, Nippon Steel Engineering continues to promote effective use according to regional needs, contributing to the realization of a resource-recycling and decarbonized society.