Green Carbon Inc. has entered a formal cooperation agreement with Toyota City and the agricultural cooperative JA Aichi Toyota to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region’s agricultural sector. The partnership focuses on generating carbon credits from rice cultivation, thereby creating a new income source for local farmers while advancing environmental goals.

The initiative centers on two key methane reduction techniques for paddy fields: extending the mid-season drying period and implementing alternate wetting and drying (AWD). The collaboration includes demonstration experiments for AWD, marking the first industry-academia-government effort of its kind in Japan. These methods lower methane emissions by introducing oxygen into the soil, altering the conditions for methane-producing microbes. The project leverages Japan’s J-Credit system, which certifies and allows for the trading of verified emissions reductions.

The partnership builds on successful demonstrations conducted in fiscal year 2024, which confirmed the effectiveness of these cultivation practices. For Toyota City, a designated “SDGs Future City” and Aichi Prefecture’s leading rice producer, this aligns with its goal of promoting environmentally friendly agriculture. A significant aspect of the program is its accessibility for farmers. Green Carbon has developed a system that allows farmers to manage the necessary record-keeping and credit application procedures through a smartphone application, reducing administrative burdens and making participation more straightforward.

Looking ahead, the partners aim to establish the first official J-Credit methodology in Japan specifically for the AWD technique. This will position Toyota City and Green Carbon as leaders in this area. The collaboration also seeks to foster a “local production for local consumption” model for the generated credits, encouraging businesses within Toyota City to purchase them. The ultimate goal is to create a sustainable agricultural model that balances environmental responsibility with economic profitability, with potential for replication across the nation.

SOURCE: Green Carbon,inc. has begun supporting income improvement for farmers in Toyota City by …