On March 11th, staff from Urawa Reds participated in the 2026 J.League Climate Action Training "Environmental Regeneration Agriculture Experience," organized by the J.League Sustainability Department.

This training program was conducted with the aim of deepening understanding of "plant-based/low-carbon food" and "biodiversity," which are items in the Sport Positive Leagues (SPL), and gaining insights that can be used in future club initiatives. Staff members who promote SPL at each club participated.

The venue was "SHO FARM" in Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture. Based on the philosophy of "agriculture that will last for a thousand years," the farm practices pesticide-free cultivation, no-till farming, and environmentally regenerative agriculture, cultivating a wide variety of vegetables and grains.
In addition, the farm is committed to environmentally conscious practices such as solar power generation, rainwater harvesting, bio-toilets, and compost production, and is also working on "agricultural-welfare collaboration," which links agriculture with welfare.


The training began with a lecture where we learned about the challenges surrounding agriculture in Japan, such as the decline and aging of agricultural workers, the decrease in food self-sufficiency, and the worsening of global droughts. We also learned about the potential of "environmentally regenerative agriculture (no-till farming)," which enables sustainable production while restoring the soil environment, and heard about hopes for the future.


Next, we experienced a delicious plant-based meal.
The menu included dishes made with soybeans, such as fried chicken and meatballs, as well as rice from SHO FARM and grilled and dressed vegetables. This helped us deepen our understanding of how to enjoy satisfying food while minimizing our environmental impact.

In the subsequent workshop, participants experienced "log farming," a method for improving soil conditions.
This farming method involves burying decaying wood, bamboo, charcoal, and fallen leaves in the soil, and using the action of filamentous fungi such as mushrooms to regenerate the soil. It is a sustainable method of growing vegetables without fertilizers or pesticides.

Participants actually dug in the field, laid down decaying logs, and mixed in charcoal, bamboo, and fallen leaves to create furrows. The furrows created in this way will become suitable for cultivation in a few months, and it is said that no further soil preparation will be needed for about five years.


Finally, participants exchanged opinions with each other. They shared their impressions and insights from the training, and discussed the potential of environmentally friendly agriculture combined with sports, concluding the training session.

Urawa Reds will continue to promote sustainability activities as a club and work towards realizing a sustainable society through sports.


This training program is funded by the Nippon Foundation.