Sojitz Corporation (“Sojitz”) has concluded a capital and business tie-up with Saka No Tochu Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Minami-ku, Kyoto; Representative Director: Kunihiko Ono; “Saka No Tochu”), a company engaged in the sale of agricultural produce from sustainable farms with a low environment burden. Saka No Tochu’s main partners are new famers.

In 2021, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries launched a strategy for sustainable agriculture, “Japan’s Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems (Strategy Midori),” which aims to expand Japan’s organic farmland from today’s 0.6% (25,200 ha) to 25% (1 million ha) by 2050.

Saka No Tochu’s mission is to increase the spread of eco-friendly farms with a low environmental burden by facilitating sales each year of over 500 types of agricultural produce grown without pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Saka No Tochu has collaborated with over 400 farms, primarily comprised of new farmers, to create a system for small-batch crops with unstable crop yields to be distributed at a fair price if the crops are of high quality. Saka No Tochu has expanded its business through a vegetable subscription service for general consumers. Moving forward, Sojitz and Saka No Tochu will leverage Sojitz Group’s networks to build and expand a new distribution network, expand business geared towards retail stores and restaurants, and develop services that lower barriers to entry for farmers in order to improve income in the agriculture sector.

Sojitz seeks to support Japan’s domestic agriculture industry and contribute to regional revitalization through eco-friendly farming that utilizes regional resources. Sojitz Nogyo Corporation*¹has built a stable supply system for sustainably farmed domestic produce and will continue to expand this initiative via the capital and business tie-up with Saka No Tochu.

*1：Sojitz Nogyo Corporation was established on June 22, 2022.

[Related Information]

Company Overview – Saka No Tochu Co., Ltd.

Established	2009
Location	56 Kamitoba, Takahata-cho, Minami-ku, Kyoto
Representative Director	Kunihiko Ono
Main Business	Sale of agricultural produce free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Operation of Umi No Mukou Coffee, which aims to both realize forest conservation and boost regional income through farming of high-quality coffee in the mountains of Southeast Asia.
Website	https://www.on-the-slope.com/

[For questions, contact:]
Sojitz Corporation Public Relations Dept.　+81－3－6871－3404