High-quality, high-value-added agriculture using 還元野菜 (vegetables grown under reducing conditions)

「We have also estimated that suppressing the blackening that reduces product value through the antioxidant properties of hydrogen-rich electrolyzed water would raise the average unit price by 27%. We are currently conducting joint research with RIKEN involving gene-level analysis to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.」

「Going forward, we plan to conduct gene-level analysis. If the mechanisms underlying the effects are clarified, we will look beyond Japan to global markets and pursue research and development energetically to expand our agricultural business.」

「In the agricultural field, we are working to achieve high-quality, high-value-added agriculture by applying hydrogen-rich electrolyzed water to crop cultivation to improve production efficiency, contribute to the production of functional crops with high antioxidant properties and sugar content, and build the “Reduced-Oxidation Vegetables®” brand. With the cooperation of farmers, we have verified the effects of hydrogen-rich electrolyzed water to date, and are now preparing to conduct joint research with RIKEN to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.」

「The joint project with Kobe University on “Growing High-Quality, Highly Functional Persimmons Using Hydrogen-Rich Electrolyzed Water” has been selected for Hyogo Prefecture’s fiscal 2019 support program for the creation of agribusinesses, and will receive a subsidy. We will also newly verify its effects on fruit trees.」

「In the agricultural field, we continue to verify cultivation technologies and growing methods using hydrogen-rich electrolyzed water.」

「In the agricultural field, under the “Reduced-Oxidation Vegetables Project,” an industry-government-academia collaboration in Kochi Prefecture, we continue to verify cultivation technologies and growing methods using hydrogen-rich electrolyzed water. We are also pursuing new collaborations with universities and companies that have expertise in cultivation trials at the Kochi Agricultural Technology Center and in the analysis of cultivation data, in order to establish clearer evidence of the effects of cultivation using hydrogen-rich electrolyzed water. Although the full-scale commercialisation of “Reduced-Oxidation Vegetables®” is taking time, we are making steady progress toward broader adoption.」

「In agriculture, under the industry-government-academia "Reductive Vegetables Project" in Kochi Prefecture, the electrolyzed hydrogen-rich water plots in bell pepper cultivation at a large next-generation greenhouse in Nankoku achieved yields of 107% of those in the tap-water plots. In a next-generation greenhouse with high production efficiency, where the growing environment is controlled for temperature, humidity and CO2, the results showing that changing the water further improved production efficiency are considered a significant achievement.」

「Through the industry-government-academia "Reductive Vegetables Project" in Kochi Prefecture, bell pepper cultivation at a next-generation large horticultural facility, which began in February 2017, is on track to achieve its medium-term yield target of 20 tonnes per 10 ares within just 2 years. The company will work to improve production efficiency with the aim of reaching 22 tonnes, Japan's highest efficiency.」

「Under the industry-government-academia "Reductive Vegetables Project" in Kochi Prefecture, bell pepper cultivation at a Dutch-style next-generation greenhouse in Nankoku has entered its second cycle, and the company is testing cultivation technologies and growing methods to improve production efficiency. In demonstration tests at the Noshiro City Agricultural Technology Center in Noshiro, Akita Prefecture, tomato yields were reported to be 1.8 times higher than those grown with tap water or groundwater. The results were featured as the top news story in the local newspaper Hoku'u Shimpo on 7 December last year. The company will continue working to improve production efficiency toward the full-scale commercialization of "Reductive Vegetables®" and wider adoption of the "Reductive Vegetables water treatment equipment."」

「In February this year, a Dutch-style large horticultural greenhouse equipped with Japan's first electrolyzed-water system was completed in Nankoku, Kochi Prefecture, and bell pepper cultivation using electrolyzed hydrogen-rich water has entered its second cycle. The company is proceeding with the project with the aim of building more robust evidence to promote wider adoption of the "Reductive Vegetables water treatment equipment."」

「Toward the full-scale commercialization of "Reductive Vegetables®," the company will continue promoting improvements in cultivation technology and demonstrations of growth effects.」

「In agriculture, under the "Reductive Vegetables Project," promoted through industry-government-academia collaboration in Kochi Prefecture, a next-generation large horticultural facility was completed, and cultivation of bell peppers and sweet peppers began in February this year. The first bell pepper harvest was in April and the first sweet pepper harvest in May. Differences in growth were observed compared with plants cultivated with groundwater in some test plots.」

「In agriculture, under the "Reductive Vegetables Project," promoted through industry-government-academia collaboration in Kochi Prefecture, a large horticultural facility costing approximately ¥340 million, supported by subsidies from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Kochi Prefecture and Nankoku City, was completed on 31 January this year. Cultivation of "Reductive Vegetables®"—bell peppers and sweet peppers—will begin in February.」

「A large horticultural facility costing approximately ¥320 million is under construction, with cultivation of "Reductive Vegetables®" scheduled to begin by the end of November this year. In melon cultivation in Kusatsu, Shiga Prefecture, which has been conducted since 2015, the company confirmed reproducible, statistically significant differences in yield, at 130% of the yield using regular water from Lake Biwa, and sugar content, at approximately 18 degrees compared with 14.8 degrees using regular water.」

「This autumn, under the "Reductive Vegetables Project," which is being promoted through industry-government-academia collaboration in Kochi Prefecture, the company will begin cultivating "Reductive Vegetables®" using next-generation protected horticulture at a large horticultural facility costing approximately ¥320 million. The project was selected for a subsidy program of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the "Demonstration Project for Establishing Advanced Model Agriculture through Collaboration between the Agricultural and Economic Sectors," and will receive a subsidy. In addition, from April this year, the company's agricultural water treatment equipment was added to Kochi Prefecture's "Environmental Control Technology Promotion Project," under which up to two-thirds of installation costs will be subsidized for eligible applicants meeting the requirements.」

「In agriculture, the company aims to achieve high-quality, high-value-added agriculture using electrolyzed hydrogen-rich water. Last year, Kochi Prefecture, Nankoku City, JA Nankoku City, Kochi University and the company entered into a five-party cooperation agreement to promote the "Reductive Vegetables Project." They are conducting demonstrations and promoting adoption through industry-government-academia collaboration, and this autumn will begin cultivating "Reductive Vegetables®" using next-generation protected horticulture at a large horticultural facility costing approximately ¥320 million.」