[First for Private Agricultural Machinery Manufacturer] "Aigamo Robot" Listed in Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' Green Food System Strategy Technology Catalog

NEWGREEN Inc. (Headquarters: Koganei City, Tokyo; Representative Director CEO: Daisuke Yamanaka; Representative Director COO: Daiki Nakajo; hereinafter "the Company"), which operates with the mission of "pioneering next-generation agricultural models for future farmers," has seen its automated rice paddy weeding robot, "Aigamo Robot," developed and manufactured by the Company, listed in the "Green Food System Strategy Technology Catalog (Ver. 6.0)" formulated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

This marks the first time that a technology developed by a private agricultural machinery manufacturer has been listed in this catalog, and the Company remains the sole private agricultural machinery manufacturer featured in the latest edition. This listing signifies that agricultural robotics technology originating from a startup has been positioned as a supporting technology for the implementation of sustainable agricultural policies promoted by the nation.

Quoted from page 63 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' Green Food System Strategy Technology Catalog

Background and Significance of this Listing

The "Green Food System Strategy" promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries aims to expand organic farming areas to 25% (1 million hectares) by 2050, reduce the use of chemical pesticides, and cut greenhouse gas emissions. The "Aigamo Robot" is a "weed suppression" technology that automatically travels within rice paddies and agitates the water to inhibit weed photosynthesis. In addition to enabling weed management without reliance on herbicides, it has also been confirmed to have a methane gas emission suppression effect by supplying oxygen to the rice paddies, and its adoption is spreading as a technology that simultaneously achieves environmental impact reduction and labor saving in agricultural fields.

Most technologies previously listed in this catalog centered on varieties and fertilization management developed by public institutions (such as NARO and prefectural extension centers). The current listing of the Company's "Aigamo Robot" as the first private agricultural machinery manufacturer's technology indicates that a startup's field-driven technology development and social implementation efforts have been recognized as an indispensable piece in the national environmental impact reduction measures.

Accelerating Social Implementation through Partnerships

The Company has been advancing the development and social implementation of the "Aigamo Robot" in cooperation with many partner companies, farmers, and research institutions, including its main shareholder Iseki Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd. This achievement is the result of combining the network of a major agricultural machinery manufacturer with the Company's robotics technology, continuously developing with a focus on practical application. Moving forward, together with our partner companies, we aim to promote the widespread adoption of sustainable agricultural models that balance environmental impact reduction and productivity improvement, and strive for the realization of a society where food and agriculture continue as an attractive industry for the next generation.

Three Environmental and Social Values Realized by the "Aigamo Robot"

- Contribution to reducing chemical pesticide use: Physical agitation suppresses weed proliferation, enabling a significant reduction in herbicide use. - Methane gas reduction (climate change countermeasure): Supplying oxygen to rice paddies through agitation has been confirmed to suppress the generation of methane gas, a greenhouse gas, and new possibilities such as carbon credit creation are also expected. - Dramatic reduction of labor burden: Automates "weeding work," which is the biggest bottleneck in organic and reduced-pesticide cultivation, and supports farmers in expanding their operations.

Comment from Tetsuya Nakamura, Vice President / Aigamo Robot Developer

Being the first private agricultural machinery manufacturer to receive technical certification in this catalog issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which even major manufacturers could not achieve, and being the only one listed in the latest edition, demonstrates NEWGREEN's agricultural technology development capabilities. The establishment of this technology is the result of the fusion of the startup's unique agility and the expertise of various partners, including Iseki Agricultural Machinery Co., Ltd., which is an investor. Moving forward, through the development of sustainable agricultural technologies such as the Aigamo Robot, we will contribute not only to labor saving in weeding but also to maximizing "environmental value" such as reduced-pesticide cultivation and methane gas reduction, and push agriculture to become an economically successful and attractive growth industry for young people.

Reference Materials

【Listed Location】

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries "Green Food System Strategy Technology Catalog (Ver. 6.0)"

Rice Cultivation (Individual Technologies) P.63 "Automated Rice Paddy Weeding Robot"

Official Website of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: https://www.maff.go.jp/j/kanbo/kankyo/seisaku/midori/catalog.html

【Aigamo Robot Achievements】

- Certified as eligible machinery for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' "Green Investment Promotion Tax System," and received the Japanese Society of Crop Science Paper Award https://newgreen.inc/news/igam2_midori - Confirmed approx. 60% reduction in weeding man-hours and approx. 10% increase in yield through demonstration with NARO https://www.affrc.maff.go.jp/docs/10topics/2024/2024_02.html - "Aigamo Robot" to a national project in Vietnam https://newgreen.inc/news/Vietnam202603

11th Robot Award "Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award