Earth Saver Project, led by children and connecting food and agriculture with technology, launches as a stepping stone to the 2027 International Horticultural Exposition.

Plantio Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya Ward, Tokyo / Representative Director & CEO: Takayoshi Serizawa, hereinafter "Plantio"), a social impact startup aiming for the democratization of agriculture and food and the social implementation of a democratic "Agri-Food Infrastructure," is launching a new food and agriculture education program in collaboration with CLASS EARTH Co., Ltd. (Chuo Ward, Tokyo) and the nature education program "Earth Saver Project." This project serves as a momentum-building initiative leading up to the "2027 International Horticultural Exposition (GREEN×EXPO 2027)" to be held in Yokohama. ## Kick-off Workshop to Be Held The first workshop will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026. Using bamboo harvested from neglected bamboo forests in the Kanto region, children will create their own planters. They will then sow seeds of "Endangered Vegetables™," native vegetables that have supported the local ecosystem. This is a long-term process-based learning program aiming to sow "seeds for the next generation" from the planted vegetables at the opening of the 2027 International Horticultural Exposition. 1. Fostering "Sensitivity to Life" Through Technology Utilizing Plantio's digital cultivation guide "grow," the app will guide children on plant conditions based on data from soil sensors, such as "I need water" or "time to thin out seedlings." The experience of noticing subtle changes in plants through data nurtures children's compassion for life. 2. The Meaning of Growing "Endangered Vegetables™" Instead of uniform commercial vegetables, they will grow "native species" that have coexisted with the local climate, insects, and birds. The grow app visualizes how one's planter connects with the local nature, implementing the concept of "commons" that was once held by satoyama into modern urban life. 3. Creating "Next-Generation Leaders" Who Can Change the Future Beyond just gardening knowledge, the program aims to cultivate leaders who can logically grasp the impact of their actions on the global environment while adeptly using technology. ## Invitation to Media and Co-Creation Partner Briefing Following the workshop, a partnership briefing will be held for companies and organizations that resonate with the project's philosophy. This briefing will present the realization of Nature Positive and the collaborative approaches leading up to the 2027 International Horticultural Exposition. The presentation will cover how the latest technology and education will be integrated and what kind of impact will be generated towards 2027. Furthermore, participants will have the opportunity to observe and film the workshop in progress. To participate in the briefing and observe/film the workshop, please apply through the following URL: URL: https://forms.gle/yUj3qLsTGpyaWJDU7 * Date & Time: Saturday, April 11, 2026 Workshop: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Project Briefing: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM (including media coverage and Q&A) * Venue: The Edible Park OTEMACHI by grow Rooftop, Otemachi Bldg., 1-6-1 Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0004 * Speakers: Takayoshi Serizawa (Co-founder & CEO, Plantio Co., Ltd.)
Haruka Takakishi (Representative Director, CLASS EARTH Co., Ltd.)
Shoji Kawamori (Animation Director) ## What is Earth Saver? Born from the anime "La Tale of the Earth," Earth Savers are saviors of the Earth. The Earth Saver Project encourages children to think about what they can do within biodiversity and to act as agents to protect living creatures and nature. Through Nature Positive education, SDGs promotion events, and collaboration with schools and municipalities, they convey messages for the future to the world through "learning and expression" such as songs, dances, and presentations. ## About the "grow" Cloud-Distributed Agri-Food Infrastructure To "bring people closer to agriculture," we combine the power of technology and entertainment. This lowers the barrier to entry for agricultural participation, while creating touchpoints for experiencing agriculture everywhere – on office buildings, commercial facilities, rooftops of apartment buildings, in park corners, or indoors like basements. ▼Three Locations for Creating Opportunities to Experience Agriculture * Rooftops of office buildings * Gaps in the city * Indoors such as offices and basements We create spaces and opportunities to interact with agriculture in indoor locations like offices, commercial facilities, apartment building rooftops, park corners, and basements. This system, which integrates software (content such as agriculture, food, vegetables, human interaction, and events) and hardware (spaces, planters), is the democratic cloud-distributed "Agri-Food Infrastructure" called "grow," which anyone can easily participate in anywhere. *grow brand logo* ## Company Profile Company Name: Plantio Co., Ltd. Office Location: 11-7 Shinkawa, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo Established: June 16, 2015 Capital: 255.32 million JPY Representative: Takayoshi Serizawa URL: https://plantio.co.jp/ Overview: The root cause of all issues is that as capitalism has progressed to its extreme, "production" and "consumption" have become distanced, leading to "people becoming distant from agriculture." We create spaces and opportunities to engage with agriculture and food, lowering the threshold for participation through "digital technology x fun!" We are building a democratic "Agri-Food Infrastructure" for food and agriculture, and food culture, that anyone can actively participate in. Led by Takayoshi Serizawa, named one of "25 People Illuminating the Future of Food" by Forbes JAPAN, and selected for the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's startup support program "J-Startup," we are a social impact startup. Main Business Activities: * Development of the cloud-distributed agri-food infrastructure "grow" * Development of the "Crowd Farming System" for vegetable cultivation support using AIoT/ICT * Consulting for community development involving agriculture and food * Planning, installation, and operation of joint community farms (smart community farms) equipped with "grow" * Deployment of urban farming services for home use equipped with "grow" * Planning, development, and operation of experience content and educational programs focusing on agriculture and food * Support for GX (Green Transformation) for corporations, municipalities, and government * Support for TCDF/TNFD report creation for corporations, municipalities, and government * Collaborative research with companies and universities to create future value through business co-creation and agriculture/food ## About CLASS EARTH Co., Ltd. Established: January 6, 2023 Address: 8-17-5 Ginza, Chuo Ward, Tokyo 104-0061 Representative Director: Haruka Takakishi Business Activities: Education, consulting, art business HP: https://class-earth.com/ < About Us > CLASS EARTH is a creative company that integrates Nature Positive education × stories × art × entertainment with biodiversity as its theme. Based on the philosophy that "correct action cannot be born without correct knowledge," we create opportunities to foster understanding and action towards nature through stories, experiences, expression, and practice.