Gifu University opened a booth for the third round of the Gifu Nice Rice Project, "Sales of Gifu Umai (Gifu Nice Rice)," based on the Gifu University and FC Gifu Partner Agreement for Environmental Conservation at Nagaragawa Stadium on November 8 and 23, 2015.
Aiming at raising people's awareness of rice production and environmental conservation, Gifu University and FC Gifu co-organize the "Gifu Nice Rice Project" and join together in rice planting, harvesting and sales.
A special cultivar of Gifu Prefecture, "hatsushimo" rice seedlings were planted by elementary school children in the first round of the Project called "Soccer Game & Rice Planting in Muddy Field," and harvested by two players of FC Gifu, Mr. Gakuji Ota (goalkeeper) and Mr. Tsukasa Masuyama (midfielder), and by Gifu University students in the second round of the Project called "Cropping Rice & Drying Sheaves."
"Gifu Umai" is the name of the blended rice consisting of the harvested hatsushimo rice and unmilled rice of "Midori Mai (Green Rice)." Midori Mai is a cultivar with green rice kernels harvested at Gifu University, the green color of which is the same as the team color of FC Gifu.
Gifu Umai was sold at a booth on days when FC Gifu soccer games were held. On the first day of sales, many FC Gifu supporters visited the booth despite the rain. The second day of sales was the day of the FC Gifu's final match of the season, and some of the supporters returned to the booth to buy the rice again saying that the rice was delicious. Gifu Umai was also cooked for tasting and visitors had a chance to try it out while learning about the Gifu Nice Rice Project.
Many visitors were already familiar with activities such as "Soccer Game & Rice Planting in Muddy Field," and "Cropping Rice & Drying Sheaves." This proved that the environmental cooperation projects of Gifu University and FC Gifu have received wide recognition.

The Gifu Nice Rice Project was the first collaboration between Gifu University and FC Gifu, and concluded with this third round. The Project provided a valuable opportunity to the public to learn about the environmental projects that Gifu University and FC Gifu promote together, and to think about rice production with the participation and cooperation of elementary school children, university students and people in the community.
Gifu University promises to continue efforts for environmental conservation with the cooperation of FC Gifu.