World's First 'Selectable Citrus Grafting NFT' Project Enters 2nd Year of Co-Cultivation by Farmers and Holders

Metagri Lab (operated by Nojounin Co., Ltd., headquartered in Funabashi, Chiba, Representative Director: Yuichiro Kai), a community working on social experiments combining agriculture with new technologies, announced that its world-first (*1) 'Selectable Citrus Grafting NFT' project, launched in February 2025, has reached its first anniversary since the grafting in April 2025. This project involves grafting rare citrus varieties 'Asumi' or 'Asuki' onto mature Shikuwasa trees as rootstocks, allowing NFT holders to continuously monitor the growth process and the farmer's decisions, thereby co-cultivating a single tree.

In this second year, prioritizing tree growth, the harvest schedule has been postponed from Spring 2027 to Spring 2028 based on an agreement with NFT holders. The project continues to practice a new form of fruit tree ownership using NFTs, sharing cultivation decisions between the producer and holders.

(*1) 'Selectable Citrus Grafting NFT' is the world's first attempt (according to company research as of February 2025).

Project Overview - Service Name: Selectable Citrus Grafting NFT - Period: April 2025 – Spring 2028 (scheduled) - Mechanism: Top-grafting rare citrus 'Asumi' or 'Asuki' (selected by the owner) onto mature Shikuwasa trees evaluated for drought resistance. Ownership rights are recorded as NFTs (long-term growth certificates) on the blockchain. Harvested citrus fruits will be delivered directly to the owners. - Cultivation Management: Farmer Toyama Mikan

Journey of the First Year and Growth Status Since grafting began in April 2025, cultivation risks and farmer decisions—including work interruptions due to hail, pest control, low rainfall, and harvest timing reviews—have been continuously shared with NFT holders. A key feature of this project is disclosing not only smooth growth but also unforeseen difficulties, sharing the entire cultivation process with holders.

【Growth Timeline】 - February 2025: Announcement of 'Selectable Citrus Grafting NFT' - April 2025: Farmer grafts 'Asumi' and 'Asuki' onto mature Shikuwasa trees - May 2025: Germination from grafted parts, confirming successful grafting - September 2025: Checked rootstock growth during persistent low rainfall - March 2026: Harvest postponed from Spring 2027 to Spring 2028; all NFT holders agree - May 2026: One year since grafting. First flowers plucked to prioritize branch growth

Decision-Making Process for Harvest Postponement In March 2026, the farmer proposed postponing the harvest by one year to Spring 2028. This is because prioritizing branch, leaf, and tree growth over fruiting in the second year, and fully developing the tree structure by the third year, promises a more stable harvest. In response, all NFT holders supported the proposal, choosing 'harvesting in the best condition' over an early harvest. This collaborative decision-making process represents a new form of fruit tree ownership.

Profile of Participants - Toyama Mikan: Resides in Mikkabi, western Shizuoka. Graduate of agricultural college, managing the family citrus orchard. Explores rich flavors using amino acids and nucleic acids. - Metagri Lab: A community aiming for sustainable agriculture. Started in March 2022, with over 1,300 participants as of June 2026. Explores agriculture combined with generative AI, Web3, and the metaverse.