Green Carbon Inc. (CEO: Jun Okita, hereinafter “Green Carbon”), which develops a nature-based carbon credit generation and sales business, on Friday, November 14, 2025, concluded a cooperation agreement with Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture (Mayor: Toshihiko Ota) and JA Aichi Toyota (Representative Director and Union President: Naoto Ishikawa). The agreement aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector and improve farmers’ income through the sale of carbon credits by promoting J-Credits for “extension of mid-season drying period in rice cultivation” (※1), and conducting demonstration experiments of alternate wetting and drying (AWD) (※2) which will be the first such industry-academia-government collaboration in Japan.
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We have compiled a video of the event from that day, so please be sure to take a look.
◆ Background of this collaboration
Green Carbon has been promoting the generation of carbon credits in Japan and overseas by leveraging a wide range of natural capital—such as agriculture, livestock, forestry, and biochar. In an era that demands decarbonization, we aim to return environmental value to local communities and realize both sustainability and profitability in agriculture.
Meanwhile, Toyota City in Aichi Prefecture, together with JA Aichi Toyota, has advanced farmland consolidation and farmer development, growing into the leading rice-producing area in the prefecture. The city has also been selected as an “SDGs Future City,” and its 4th Toyota City Basic Agricultural Plan advocates the realization of “environmentally friendly agriculture,” actively promoting initiatives to reduce environmental impact in the agricultural sector.
The two parties began their collaboration in FY2024, conducting demonstrations on “extending the mid-season drying period” and “alternate wetting and drying (AWD)” in rice cultivation. These experiments verified that greenhouse gas emissions can, in fact, be reduced.
This has become an important step in demonstrating that methane reduction from paddy fields does not impose a new burden on farmers, but rather shows that “environmental contribution can directly translate into income.”
○Scenes from the signing ceremony
◆ Future outlook
In line with the promotion of “environmentally friendly agriculture” outlined in the 4th Toyota City Basic Agricultural Plan and toward the realization of a zero-carbon city, we will work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the agricultural sector and improve farmers’ income through initiatives such as promoting J-Credits for “extending the mid-season drying period in rice cultivation” and conducting demonstration experiments of alternate wetting and drying (AWD)—the first such industry–academia–government collaboration in Japan.
In addition, by introducing and facilitating the generated J-Credits to businesses within Toyota City, we will promote initiatives aimed at achieving local production and local consumption of J-Credits. Furthermore, we will advance the development of the first J-Credit methodology in Japan for alternate wetting and drying (AWD), with the goal of establishing Toyota City and Green Carbon as leading pioneers in AWD implementation.
◆ Comments from Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture representatives
【Comment from the Mayor of Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture】
Based on the principles shared at the International Mayor’s Forum, Toyota City will realize sustainable agriculture through the creation of agricultural carbon credits. This is an ambitious challenge that gives concrete form to “environmentally friendly agriculture” and contributes to achieving a zero-carbon city. We aim to expand this Toyota City agricultural model, which balances environmental impact reduction with improved farmer income across the nation.
So that future generations may take pride in the rice produced in Toyota City, we will continue to make unwavering efforts to fulfill our important mission of preserving our rich natural environment and the blessings of food, striving to build agriculture that is truly “chosen.” We ask for your understanding and cooperation in this initiative.
【Comment from Mr. Ishikawa, Representative Director and Union President of JA Aichi Toyota】
Through this collaboration between Toyota City, JA Aichi Toyota, and Green Carbon, a system has been established that enables farmers to complete procedures easily via smartphone. This not only resolves the longstanding challenge of daily record-keeping, which has been a burden on farmers for many years, but is also highly valued for providing a new source of income for farmers.
We emphasized that if reductions in environmental impact can be harmonized with farmers’ intentions, it is something that the region should actively pursue. At the same time, we stated that ensuring such information is reliably disseminated is essential for realizing sustainable agriculture.
Starting from FY2025, efforts will be made to introduce alternate wetting and drying (AWD), aiming to achieve both improved quality and reduced environmental impact. We look forward to the establishment of this new system, which farmers can adopt without difficulty.
※１： J-Credit: “Extension of mid-season drying in rice cultivation”
The J-Credit system certifies the amount of greenhouse gas emissions reduced as “carbon credits” by the national government, making them tradeable. Its application within the agricultural sector is particularly anticipated.
By extending the mid-season drying period in rice cultivation by seven days or more compared to the average number of implementation days over the past two or more years, and undergoing the prescribed review process, it becomes possible to obtain certification of carbon credits corresponding to the reduction amount.
※２： Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD)
A management method in which, during the rice cultivation period, water is temporarily drained from the paddy field to allow the soil to dry, after which the field is reflooded. This process is repeated throughout the growing period.
◆ Green Carbon Inc.
Representative: Jun Okita, CEO
Head Office: PREX North 9F, 2-3-2 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Established: December 2019
Business Activities: Development and sales of carbon credits, agriculture-related projects, environmental projects, other related businesses, and ESG consulting
Website: https://green-carbon.co.jp/en/
◆ About Green Carbon
Guided by the vision of “Harnessing the power of life to save the Earth,” Green Carbon develops and supports projects that generate, register, and sell nature-based carbon credits both in Japan and abroad. The company is also engaged in agriculture-related businesses, R&D initiatives, and ESG consulting.
Its business activities span Japan, Southeast Asia, Australia, and South America, creating credits from rice paddies, biochar, forest conservation, carbon farming, mangrove planting, and cattle methane reduction. In Japan, Green Carbon obtained certification in FY2023 for the country’s first and one of the largest-scale rice paddy J-Credit projects (approx. 6,220 t). In FY2024, the company plans to expand this initiative to around 40,000 ha (approx. 80,000 t).
Green Carbon also provides “Agreen,” a one-stop platform service that streamlines the entire process of credit registration, application, and sales. By simplifying procedures and documentation, the service reduces the administrative burden on credit creators.
◆Green Carbon’s social media
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/
Wantedly：https://www.wantedly.com/companies/greencarbon2019