Japanese agtech startup TOWING has completed its largest production site in Numata City, Gunma Prefecture, featuring a continuous carbonization facility engineered to process 10,000 tonnes of livestock biomassBiomass is a complex biological organic or non-organic solid product derived from living or recently living organism and available naturally. Various types of wastes such as animal manure, waste paper, sludge and many industrial wastes are also treated as biomass because like natural biomass these More annually. Developed in partnership with industrial technology manufacturer Noritake and backed by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) under the SBIR Phase 3 Fund, the facility transforms regional agricultural waste into high-performance biocharBiochar is a carbon-rich material created from biomass decomposition in low-oxygen conditions. It has important applications in environmental remediation, soil improvement, agriculture, carbon sequestration, energy storage, and sustainable materials, promoting efficiency and reducing waste in various contexts while addressing climate change challenges. More. The project represents a major advancement in domestic biomass valorization, sustainable soil enrichment, and fertilizer supply chain resilience within Japan’s agricultural sector.

The primary challenge targeted by the facility is Japan’s heavy reliance on imported chemical fertilizers, which leaves domestic food production vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions and price volatility. Simultaneously, Japanese agricultural regions face significant local environmental burdens related to the disposal and odor management of excess livestock manure compost. Raw manure compost is bulky, difficult to transport efficiently, and prone to nutrient leachingLeaching is the process where nutrients are dissolved and carried away from the soil by water. This can lead to nutrient depletion and environmental pollution. Biochar can help reduce leaching by improving nutrient retention in the soil.   More, limiting its effective distribution across farming regions.

To resolve these supply chain and waste management bottlenecks, TOWING deployed an advanced continuous carbonization system to convert raw manure compost into a lighter, virtually odorless, and nutrient-dense biochar input. Beyond physical carbonization, TOWING integrates its proprietary “High-Performance Soil Technology,” which inoculates the biochar matrix with beneficial soil microorganisms to create its flagship commercial product, “Soratan.” This process stabilizes volatile organic compounds, locks carbon into a durable mineral structure, and improves soil microbial dynamics and plant nutrient uptake when applied to farmland.

The establishment of the Numata City facility provides Japan with a scalable, domestic alternative to synthetic agricultural inputs while establishing a closed-loop circular economy for regional biomass. By processing 10,000 tonnes of livestock waste per year, TOWING secures stable local fertilizer production, reduces environmental load from manure misallocation, and enables carbon sequestration that can be monetized via agricultural carbon credit and insetting frameworks.