Public perceptions of human excretion-based fertiliser in England and Japan

• There are significant cultural and gender disparities in acceptance of human excretion-based fertilizer (HEBF) for agriculture. • Japanese people are more open to HEBF for food production, but English people prefer it in public parks. • Different histories of nightsoil use influence present-day attitudes. • We need to consider the cultural context when adopting sustainable agricultural practices. This study investigates public attitudes towards the use of human excretion-based fertiliser (HEBF) in agriculture. Focusing on England and Japan, countries with contrasting histories of nightsoil use, we conducted representative surveys to understand public acceptance and sex-based differences in attitudes. Our findings reveal significant cultural and sex-based disparities in the willingness to utilize HEBF. The Japanese are more accepting of using HEBF for food production, with fewer health concerns, compared to the English. However, English respondents are more open to using HEBF in public parks. The study emphasises the need for further research on societal perceptions and highlights the importance of cultural context in adopting sustainable practices like HEBF in agriculture.