Japan Green Investment Corp. for Carbon Neutrality Decides and Executes Additional Support and Investment in Oishii Farm Corporation
Japan Green Investment Corp. for Carbon Neutrality (JICN) has decided and executed an additional investment of 10 million USD in Oishii Farm Corporation, which operates a plant factory in the US. This funding is for the expansion of Oishii Farm's large-scale plant factory in New Jersey, USA, marking JICN's first additional investment in a startup via SAFE.
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- 📰 Published: May 13, 2026 at 16:10
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Japan Green Investment Corp. for Carbon Neutrality (Representative Director and President: Yoshihiko Tayoshi, English name: Japan Green Investment Corp. for Carbon Neutrality (JICN)) has decided and executed an additional investment of 10 million US dollars in Oishii Farm Corporation (Headquarters: New Jersey, USA, CEO: Hiroki Koga, hereinafter Oishii Farm) for equipment, development, and operating funds for the expansion of its large-scale plant factory in New Jersey, USA.
This investment was initially acquired as SAFE* and converted into equity upon Series C funding, marking JICN's first additional investment in a startup and acquisition of SAFE.
Going forward, JICN plans to monitor Oishii Farm's business to confirm its initiatives towards GHG reduction.
*SAFE: Simple Agreement for Future Equity, a standardized investment agreement popular in the United States, referring to a form of paid warrant that facilitates fundraising for startups.
1. Overview of the Business Operator
(1) Name: Oishii Farm Corporation
https://oishiifarm.co.jp/
(2) Headquarters: New Jersey, USA
(3) Representative: CEO Hiroki Koga
(4) Date of Establishment: December 12, 2016
(5) Main Business Activities: Production and sales of strawberries and other produce in plant factories, utilizing Japanese agricultural and industrial technology.
(6) Business Status and Future Plans
Oishii Farm has successfully achieved stable mass production of strawberries, which are considered the most difficult crop to produce stably over a long cultivation period, using natural pollination by bees within a plant factory based on Japanese agricultural and industrial technology. This is a world first. Sales are expanding mainly on the East Coast of the United States, including high-end supermarkets, restaurants, and major retail chains.
As announced by JICN on June 16, 2023, JICN decided and executed support (investment) for equipment, development, and operating funds for the construction of a large-scale plant factory (megafarm) in the United States. https://www.jicn.co.jp/JICN_newsrelease_230616.pdf
The US megafarm began operations in 2023, receiving electricity from an adjacent solar power plant, and cultivating strawberries and other produce through robotic harvesting using automated rotating racks and water recycling. The company plans to gradually expand the units within the factory.
Furthermore, in November 2023, Oishii Farm Japan Co., Ltd. was established, and in June 2025, the company announced the opening of an R&D facility for plant factories, the "Open Innovation Center," in Hamura City, Tokyo, with some research already underway.
This current fundraising aims to expand the units of the US megafarm due to increased demand for Oishii Farm products.
2. Policy Significance of the Support Decision
(1) Perspective of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction/Absorption
Traditional strawberry production in the United States is centered in California in the west, requiring long-distance transportation when the final demand is in the eastern United States. Oishii Farm expects to reduce GHG emissions associated with transportation by producing near the final demand location.
In addition, while high power consumption is generally a challenge for plant factories, Oishii Farm procures electricity derived from renewable energy sources, such as an adjacent solar power plant.
(2) Perspective of a Virtuous Cycle of Economy and Environment
Since production takes place within the factory, it is possible to stably mass-produce high-quality strawberries regardless of weather conditions.
Furthermore, Oishii Farm fully adopts Japanese agricultural technology (seedlings, greenhouse cultivation, etc.) and robotics, planning global expansion starting from the United States.
Oishii Farm aims to package its plant factory technology while strengthening joint development with various companies at the Open Innovation Center currently under construction. By collaborating with Japanese companies, it is expected that a comprehensive industrial base supporting next-generation agriculture will be established through the establishment of a plant factory technology foundation.
Based on Japanese technology, while striving to improve productivity and added value, it is expected that in the future, packaged plant factories will be deployed in various regions around the world, thereby boosting Japan's industrial competitiveness and contributing to increased production and job creation in response to the challenge of a declining agricultural population.
JICN will continue to provide funding for various decarbonization-contributing businesses in collaboration with various stakeholders, and disseminate know-how, information, and human resources, connecting ideas and technologies held by diverse entities to create a rich and sustainable future.
This investment was initially acquired as SAFE* and converted into equity upon Series C funding, marking JICN's first additional investment in a startup and acquisition of SAFE.
Going forward, JICN plans to monitor Oishii Farm's business to confirm its initiatives towards GHG reduction.
*SAFE: Simple Agreement for Future Equity, a standardized investment agreement popular in the United States, referring to a form of paid warrant that facilitates fundraising for startups.
1. Overview of the Business Operator
(1) Name: Oishii Farm Corporation
https://oishiifarm.co.jp/
(2) Headquarters: New Jersey, USA
(3) Representative: CEO Hiroki Koga
(4) Date of Establishment: December 12, 2016
(5) Main Business Activities: Production and sales of strawberries and other produce in plant factories, utilizing Japanese agricultural and industrial technology.
(6) Business Status and Future Plans
Oishii Farm has successfully achieved stable mass production of strawberries, which are considered the most difficult crop to produce stably over a long cultivation period, using natural pollination by bees within a plant factory based on Japanese agricultural and industrial technology. This is a world first. Sales are expanding mainly on the East Coast of the United States, including high-end supermarkets, restaurants, and major retail chains.
As announced by JICN on June 16, 2023, JICN decided and executed support (investment) for equipment, development, and operating funds for the construction of a large-scale plant factory (megafarm) in the United States. https://www.jicn.co.jp/JICN_newsrelease_230616.pdf
The US megafarm began operations in 2023, receiving electricity from an adjacent solar power plant, and cultivating strawberries and other produce through robotic harvesting using automated rotating racks and water recycling. The company plans to gradually expand the units within the factory.
Furthermore, in November 2023, Oishii Farm Japan Co., Ltd. was established, and in June 2025, the company announced the opening of an R&D facility for plant factories, the "Open Innovation Center," in Hamura City, Tokyo, with some research already underway.
This current fundraising aims to expand the units of the US megafarm due to increased demand for Oishii Farm products.
2. Policy Significance of the Support Decision
(1) Perspective of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction/Absorption
Traditional strawberry production in the United States is centered in California in the west, requiring long-distance transportation when the final demand is in the eastern United States. Oishii Farm expects to reduce GHG emissions associated with transportation by producing near the final demand location.
In addition, while high power consumption is generally a challenge for plant factories, Oishii Farm procures electricity derived from renewable energy sources, such as an adjacent solar power plant.
(2) Perspective of a Virtuous Cycle of Economy and Environment
Since production takes place within the factory, it is possible to stably mass-produce high-quality strawberries regardless of weather conditions.
Furthermore, Oishii Farm fully adopts Japanese agricultural technology (seedlings, greenhouse cultivation, etc.) and robotics, planning global expansion starting from the United States.
Oishii Farm aims to package its plant factory technology while strengthening joint development with various companies at the Open Innovation Center currently under construction. By collaborating with Japanese companies, it is expected that a comprehensive industrial base supporting next-generation agriculture will be established through the establishment of a plant factory technology foundation.
Based on Japanese technology, while striving to improve productivity and added value, it is expected that in the future, packaged plant factories will be deployed in various regions around the world, thereby boosting Japan's industrial competitiveness and contributing to increased production and job creation in response to the challenge of a declining agricultural population.
JICN will continue to provide funding for various decarbonization-contributing businesses in collaboration with various stakeholders, and disseminate know-how, information, and human resources, connecting ideas and technologies held by diverse entities to create a rich and sustainable future.