Leveraging approximately 30,000 ha of rice paddy in Battambang Province to generate 1.3 million tons of carbon credits over the next 10 years
Green Carbon Inc. (CEO: Jun Okita, hereinafter referred to as “Green Carbon”), a company engaged in nature-based carbon credit generation and sales, announces the signing of MOU with the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (PDAFF※1) of Battambang Province in northwestern Cambodia, for the creation of carbon credits derived from rice paddies. This project aims to reduce methane gas emissions by introducing Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD※2) irrigation to rice paddies in Battambang. After its official launch in April 2025, the project will gradually expand over three years to cover approximately 30,000 hectares of rice fields in the province, with plans for a long term continuation spanning more than 10 years, expecting to generate an estimated total of 1.3 million tons of carbon credits.
Additionally, this project will be Japan’s first rice paddy methane emission reduction initiative, transitioning from a pilot phase to practical scale deployment, and is a pioneering effort to integrate sustainable agriculture with climate change mitigation.
〇For inquiries regarding this project/press release:
○To download the company overview of Green Carbon Inc. :
◆ Background of the MOU and Roles of Each Company in the Project
Green Carbon has been actively engaged in nature-based carbon credit generation across Southeast Asia, implementing projects in diverse fields such as forest conservation, rice paddies, mangrove afforestation, methane reduction from livestock, and biochar projects. By developing carbon credit initiatives that align with the unique natural resources of each region and utilizing satellite data for site selection and monitoring, the company ensures efficient and transparent project operations.
In Cambodia, Green Carbon has focused on two key areas, reducing methane emissions from rice paddies and generating biochar from rice husks. Since October 2024, Green Carbon has been collaborating with the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) on a pilot project for this initiative. To further expand the project across all of Battambang Province and promote future growth, Green Carbon has officially signed the MOU with PDAFF, which oversees agricultural policy in the province.
Under the project, PDAFF will be responsible for strengthening cooperation with local farmers, encouraging participation, and establishing appropriate irrigation management systems. In collaboration with the Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology (PDWRM※3), PDAFF will establish an effective water resource management framework.
Technically, RUA will play a central role, providing support and technical guidance for introducing AWD techniques to local farmers, measuring methane emissions, and promoting coordination with relevant institutions.
Green Carbon will lead the entire process from data collection and analysis for carbon credit creation to the certification and sale of the created credits, in compliance with the international standards. This collaborative framework involving three parties will ensure the project’s credibility and sustainability.
(Left: Green Carbon COO, Takato Senoo, Right: PDAFF Director, Chhim Vachira )
○A feature on this project by the Cambodia Khmer Times.
◆ Green Carbon’s initiatives on Cambodia
Green Carbon has been involved in a project aimed at developing and implementing greenhouse gas reduction technologies through the establishment of a rice paddy water management system in Cambodia. This initiative, which began in April 2024, is part of the SATREPS (Science and Technology Research Partnership for Sustainable Development) project, in cooperation with JIRCAS (Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences), which is the lead research organization.
The SATREPS project focuses on the Damnak Ampil irrigation area in Pursat Province (western Tonle Sap Lake), which has been equipped with irrigation and drainage facilities funded by Japan’s Official Development Assistance (ODA). The project aims to develop large-scale water management techniques that reduce methane emissions while maintaining rice yield, as well as monitoring and evaluation methods to assess the amount of greenhouse gas reductions.
Leveraging the knowledge gained from rice paddy projects in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam and the Philippines, Green Carbon aims to contribute to the decarbonization of agriculture in Cambodia.
○Participation as a Partner organization in SATREPS, Launching the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Project for Rice Paddies in Cambodia
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000057.000117956.html
◆ Significance of the Project and Future Outlook
| 1. Contribution to Decarbonization |
|---|
| Cambodia’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reach approximately 48.8 million tons of CO2 equivalent annually (※4), with the agricultural sector contributing around 22.5 million tons (about 46% of the total) (※5). Particularly, methane emissions from rice paddies account for about 11.7 million tons (about 52% of agriculture related emissions) (※6), making it a priority issue in the country’s decarbonization strategy. Through this project, the introduction of AWD to about 30,000 hectares of rice paddies in Battambang Province will reduce methane emissions. Over the course of the 10-year project, contributing to the decarbonization of Cambodia’s agricultural sector. |
| 2. Realizing Sustainable Rice Production |
|---|
| Battambang is one of Cambodia’s largest rice producing regions, with approximately 280,000 hectares (68% of the total) of rice paddies out of the province’s total agricultural land of 410,000 hectares. About 76% of the local population is engaged in agriculture, particularly rice cultivation (※7), making the region pivotal in the national rice production landscape. However, there are serious challenges regarding the low price of rice and farmer’s income, as the region’s main rice varieties are not in high demand in export markets. Additionally, the rising costs of fertilizers and pesticides further burden farmers (※8). Through this project, Green Carbon aims to innovate the rice production system by introducing AWD, which will improve yields and expand market opportunities for rice through data generated for carbon credit creation. The project will bring multiple benefits to farmers, contributing to agricultural decarbonization and the realization of sustainable rice production. Green Carbon is committed to advancing this project to address the challenges faced by Battambang Province and Cambodia as a whole, driving the decarbonization of agriculture and promoting sustainable rice production. |
| 3. Credit Creation under the Bilateral Credit Mechanism (JCM) |
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| In this project, in addition to voluntary credits (Verra, Gold Standard), we aim to register the project and create credits using the Bilateral Credit Mechanism (JCM). In Japan, it has been decided that JCM credits can be used to offset the excess emissions of companies under the GX-ETS system, and demand for these credits is expected to increase further. Additionally, the introduction of JCM credit trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange is being considered, and an increase in market liquidity is anticipated. Due to this backdrop, JCM projects are currently attracting significant attention. Cambodia is one of the partner countries under JCM, however, as of now, a methodology for creating JCM credits through methane gas reduction from rice paddies has not been established. Therefore, Green Carbon is actively working toward the development of this methodology. By utilizing JCM, the project aims to contribute to the decarbonization of both Cambodia and Japan, while ensuring the economic viability of the project. |
※1: Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (PDAFF)
PDAFF is a local government agency responsible for promoting agriculture, forestry, and fisheries in each province. Specifically, it works on the dissemination of agricultural technologies, promotion of rural development, and the planning and implementation of environmental and resource management policies. PDAFF supports regional food security and the development of sustainable agriculture.
※2: Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD)
AWD is an irrigation technique where water is periodically applied and allowed to dry naturally over several days. Compared to continuous flooding, AWD reduces water consumption and contributes to water resource conservation.
※3: Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology (PDWRM)
PDWRM is a local government agency responsible for managing water resources and meteorological observation in each province. In collaboration with local residents and agricultural stakeholders, it promotes the introduction of irrigation technologies and fair distribution of water resources, aiming to improve agricultural productivity and reduce environmental impacts, particularly as water scarcity and the effects of climate change worsen.
※4: Annual GHG Emissions
Source: GHG Emissions of All World Countries 2024 Report
https://edgar.jrc.ec.europa.eu/report_2024
※5: Agricultural Emissions
Source: Climate Watch 2025
https://www.climatewatchdata.org/countries/KHM?end_year=2021&start_year=1990#ghg-emissions
※6: Emissions from Rice Paddies
Source: Estimation of Carbon Dioxide Emissions from a Traditional Nutrient-Rich Cambodian Diet Food Production System Using Life Cycle Assessment
https://tsukuba.repo.nii.ac.jp/record/2004795/files/sustainability_13-7.pdf
※7: Cambodia’s Agricultural Land Area, Rice Paddies, and Farmer Proportions
Source: Asian Food Security Information system
https://aptfsis.org/projectnewmorecambodia
※8: Challenges for Cambodian Farmers
Sources: Cambodian Journalists Alliance Association News
https://cambojanews.com/low-rice-prices-spark-protests-in-battambang-farmers-demand-government-help/
◆Green Carbon, Inc.
Representative：Jun Okita, CEO
Location ：Isal AKASAKA607, 5-2-33 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Establishment ：December 2019
Business ：Carbon credit creation and sales business, agriculture-related business, environment-related business, other related businesses and ESG consulting business
URL ： https://green-carbon.co.jp/
◆Business Introduction of Green Carbon
Green Carbon operates with the vision of “Saving the Earth with the Power of Life”, by providing comprehensive support for the creation, registration, and sales of carbon credits in domestic and international markets. We are also expanding our business operations in wider industries including agriculture, research & development, and ESG consulting.
Our operations are primarily based in Japan and Southeast Asia, while currently expanding business in Australia and South America. We create naturally derived carbon credits from sources including water paddies, biochar, forest conservation, carbon farming, mangrove plantation, and methane from cattle eructation. Our main focus is on generating carbon credits through methane gas reduction in rice paddies, where we have obtained the first and largest certification for J-Credits in Japan (approximately 6,220 tons), and plan to expand to around 40,000 hectares (approximately 100,000 tons) 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 workload for credit creators.
◆GREEN CARBON JAPAN VIETNAM COMPANY LIMITED
Abbreviation：GREEN CARBON JAPAN VIETNAM CO,. LTD
Representative：Jun Okita, CEO
Location：10th Floor, The Nexus Building, 34-3B Ton Duc Thang, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Establishment ：August, 2024
Businesses：Carbon credit creation and sales businesses, agriculture-related business
◆Social Media for Green Carbon
Youtube ：https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYO4WnGOHDaVB1ikxheZasA
note ：https://note.com/green_carbon/
Facebook：https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557429326458
X ：https://mobile.x.com/GreenCarbon2019
LinkedIn ：https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-carbon-inc/