Expanding the rice-paddy methane reduction initiative across up to 266,000 hectares in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam
Green Carbon Inc. (CEO: Jun Okita, hereinafter referred to as Green Carbon) has signed an MOU with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) in Soc Trang Province※1, Can Tho City※2, and Bac Lieu Province※3 in southern Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. These MOUs mark Green Carbon’s official participation in the “Project on Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High-Quality and Low-Emission Rice Cultivation Associated with Green Growth in Mekong Delta by 2030” (hereafter referred as “One Million Hectares Project”), a government-led initiative focused on promoting sustainable rice farming. The partnerships aim to promote Alternate Wetting & Drying (AWD※4), reduce methane emissions from rice paddies, and generate carbon credits as part of the country’s green growth strategy.
◆Overview of the One Million Hectares Project
Launched in November 2023, the One Million Hectares Project, led by the Vietnamese government as a top priority, aims to introduce high-quality, environmentally sustainable rice farming across 1 million hectares of rice fields in the Mekong Delta by 2030. The project is managed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), in collaboration with international organizations. It seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, introduce sustainable agricultural practices, improve productivity, and boost both environmental protection and regional economic growth. AWD introduction is a key component of this initiative.
◆Background of participation in the One Million Hectares Project
Green Carbon is engaged in the creation of nature-based carbon credits, focusing on forest conservation, mangrove planting, methane reduction from rice paddies and livestock, and carbon removal through biochar.
In Vietnam, Green Carbon is primarily focused on AWD-based methane reduction projects in rice paddies. After establishing its branch in Vietnam in August 2024, Green Carbon has signed MOUs with ten provinces and is actively developing projects. Based on this, Green Carbon has signed MOUs with the DARD of Soc Trang Province, Can Tho City, and Bac Lieu Province to participate in the One Million Hectares Project. Through these MOUs, Green Carbon will promote methane reduction projects aimed at generating carbon credits from rice paddies.
◆Prospect
Green Carbon collaborates with local research institutions and universities to comprehensively support the measurement of methane gas emissions from rice paddies, the collection of necessary data, and the issuance and sale of carbon credits. DARD is responsible for cooperating on AWD projects in each province and providing recommendations and guidance to local farmers.
Moving forward, Green Carbon aims to expand its rice-paddy methane reduction initiative by implementing new AWD projects in Soc Trang Province, Can Tho City, and Bac Lieu Province. In Soc Trang Province, the project will start with 1,000 hectares of rice paddies in the first year, gradually expanding to a maximum of 130,000 hectares. In Can Tho City, the project is expected to grow from 500 hectares to approximately 100,000 hectares, and in Bac Lieu Province, from 500 hectares to a maximum of 36,000 hectares. Green Carbon will work closely with local government agencies and partners to advance the AWD projects, contributing to the sustainable development of agriculture in Vietnam.
※１：Soc Trang Province
Soc Trang Province is located in the Mekong Delta region and faces the South China Sea. It is known for its thriving agricultural sector, with rice farming as its primary activity.
※２：Can Tho City
Can Tho City, situated in southern Vietnam, is a centrally governed municipality on par with a province. It spans the southern bank of the Hau River, the largest tributary of the Mekong River. Regarded as the economic hub of the Mekong Delta, it boasts a vibrant agricultural sector centered around rice cultivation.
※３ : Bac Lieu Province
Bac Lieu Province is located in the Mekong Delta region of southern Vietnam and borders the South China Sea. Similar to Soc Trang, it has a robust agricultural economy focused on rice farming.
※４：Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD)
Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) is a method in which water is periodically added and naturally dried in rice paddies, based on the water level. Compared to continuous flooding, AWD reduces water usage, contributing to the conservation of water resources.
◆Green Carbon, Inc.
Representative : CEO Jun Okita
Address : Isal AKASAKA607, 5-2-33, Akasaka, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
Founded : December 2019
Business Operations : Creation and Selling of Carbon Credits, Agricultural Business, Environmental Business, Businesses related to Environmental Consulting, and others.
URL : https://green-carbon.co.jp/
◆Introduction of Green Carbon
Green Carbon operates with the vision of “Saving the Earth with the Power of Life,” providing comprehensive support from carbon credit creation, and registration, to sales. Additionally, we are involved in agriculture-related businesses, research and development, and ESG consulting, among others. Our main focus is on the creation of carbon credits through methane gas reduction in rice paddies, where we have obtained certification for J-Credits, the first and largest in Japan (approximately 6,220 tons), and plan to expand to around 50,000 hectares in the fiscal year 2024. We also offer a service called “Agreen” that integrates credit registration, application, and sales into one platform, simplifying procedures such as application registration and document preparation, thus reducing the workload for credit creators.
◆GREEN CARBON JAPAN VIETNAM COMPANY LIMITED
Representative : CEO Jun Okita
Address ：10th Floor, The Nexus Building, 34-3B Ton Duc Thang, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Founded ：August 2024
Business Operations ：Creation and Selling of Carbon Credits, Agricultural Business