Japan Green Investment Corp. for Carbon Neutrality Decides to Support and Invest in Kisui Inc.

Japan Green Investment Corp. for Carbon Neutrality (Representative Director and President: Hiroyuki Kato, English Name: Japan Green Investment Corp. for Carbon Neutrality (JICN)) has decided to provide 50 million yen in funding and has executed an investment in Kisui Inc. (Headquarters: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Representative Director: Tamil Bloom. Hereinafter referred to as Kisui).

Going forward, JICN plans to monitor the business activities undertaken by Kisui and confirm the company's initiatives for GHG reduction.

1. Overview of the Business Operator

(1) Name: Kisui Inc.

https://kisui.ai

(2) Headquarters Location: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture

(3) Representative: Representative Director, Tamil Bloom

(4) Date of Establishment: September 3, 2021

(5) Main Business Activities:

Development and manufacturing of the autonomous mobile electric robot "Adam", etc.

(6) Business Implementation Status and Future Plans

Kisui is a startup that develops and manufactures the autonomous mobile electric robot "Adam" for farmers facing aging populations and labor shortages, applying research in terramechanics*1 conducted at Tohoku University.

"Adam," provided by Kisui, is equipped with a unique suspension*2 structure inspired by lunar exploration robot development and AI autonomous control technology, enabling efficient material transport in uneven terrain such as small to medium-sized orchards and construction sites.

*1 Terramechanics: The study of the mechanics of soil-machine interaction. It is a field of study for understanding machine behavior on unpaved ground, sandy soil, and deformable ground such as the moon or Mars.

*2 Suspension: A device that supports the weight of a vehicle and absorbs shocks from the road surface. It mainly consists of springs, arms, dampers, and struts.

2. Policy Significance of Support Decision

(1) From the Perspective of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction and Absorption, etc.

- Greenhouse gas emissions in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sector amount to 46.38 million tons (CO2 equivalent) per year*3, accounting for 4.4% of Japan's total emissions. Of this, 14.55 million tons (CO2 equivalent), approximately 39% of the sector's emissions, are attributed to fuel consumption.*4

- "Adam," provided by Kisui, can achieve stable travel and obstacle avoidance in complex environments such as uneven terrain through external sensors and image recognition. By replacing the transport of agricultural materials traditionally done by gasoline vehicles through autonomous following or path-specified autonomous driving, it contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with fossil fuel consumption.

- Furthermore, the widespread adoption of currently under-development attachments*5 for mowing and pesticide spraying, and the "MyNojo" path-specified and farm management platform, is expected to lead to the optimization of agricultural material usage, thereby contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizers, fuel, transportation, and soil.

*3 CO2 equivalent: An index calculated by multiplying the emissions of each greenhouse gas, such as methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O), by its global warming potential (GWP). The GWP represents the ratio to CO2 of the degree to which each greenhouse gas causes global warming and varies for each greenhouse gas.

*4 From "Visualization of Efforts to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Agricultural Products" by the Global Environment Section, Midori Food System Strategy Group, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, May 2024.

*5 Attachment: An accessory for additional functionality.

(2) From the Perspective of a Virtuous Cycle of Economy and Environment

It is expected that the reduction of the labor burden by Kisui's autonomous mobile robots will contribute to the efficiency of agricultural management and sustainable food production for small and medium-sized farms, which are facing serious aging and labor shortages.

Beyond the agricultural sector, cost reductions in maintenance are also expected through applications in manufacturing plants and construction sites, as well as by replacing transport and mowing tasks around solar panels.

Overseas expansion of Japanese technology is expected through cross-application in farms and non-agricultural fields in Europe, Southeast Asia, and other regions.

JICN will continue to provide funding for a wide variety of businesses that contribute to decarbonization in collaboration with various stakeholders, and by disseminating know-how, information, and human resources, and by connecting the ideas and technologies of diverse entities, we will contribute to the creation of a prosperous and sustainable future.

[Reference 1] Business and Investment Scheme Overview

[Reference 2] Company Overview of Japan Green Investment Corp. for Carbon Neutrality

Name: Japan Green Investment Corp. for Carbon Neutrality

Japan Green Investment Corp. for Carbon Neutrality (JICN)

Representative: Representative Director and President, Hiroyuki Kato

Date of Establishment: Scheduled for October 28, 2022 (Planned operational period: Until the end of fiscal year 2050)

Capital, etc.: 65.15 billion yen

(11 billion yen from private shareholders, 54.15 billion yen from national fiscal investment and loan program (industrial investment))

Location: 7th Floor, Tokyu Toranomon Building, 1-21-19 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Website: https://www.jicn.co.jp