Gifu University and Gifu Football Club (FC Gifu) concluded the Gifu University and FC Gifu Partner Agreement for Environmental Conservation on March 18, 2015. Under this Agreement, the two institutions started "Gifu Nice Rice Project" for the purpose of letting people know more about rice production and nature preservation. In this project, Gifu University and FC Gifu will join hands from rice planting to harvesting and sales. As the first event of this project, Gifu University and FC Gifu co-hosted "Soccer Game & Rice Planting in Muddy Field" at North Farm of Gifu Field Science Center, the Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences on Saturday, May 23, 2015. A total of 43 people attended including the pupils of Gifu University Education Faculty Affiliated Elementary School and the children enrolled in FC Gifu Soccer School.

First, children were divided into four teams and played Soccer games. Covered in mud, children tirelessly kept on chasing a ball. Later, Dr. Sinya Oba, Vice Director of Gifu Field Science Center, spoke about the positive impacts of rice paddies on environment to the children. During the lecture, children showed a strong interest in the frog eggs Dr. Oba presented to them.

After Dr. Oba's lecture, both children and their parents began planting "Hatsushimo" rice seedlings one by one at the word of command of staff.

During this event, some children put the frogs and the ladybugs they caught in their hands and were curiously watching them. All the participants were given a rare opportunity to feel nature at first hand. 　

In the "Gifu Nice Rice Project," members are planning to harvest the rice with the FC Gifu's professional soccer players in October and sell the rice on the day of FC Gifu soccer game is held at the Nagaragawa Stadium in November.