news release
Sep 15,2023
EF Polymer has now obtained certification as an operator of the “Infrastructure Establishment Project Implementation Plan based on the Greenery Food System Law” promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, and has received a certificate from the Cabinet Office Okinawa Prefecture General Secretariat. This is the first certification for a business in Okinawa Prefecture.
What is the infrastructure establishment project implementation plan based on the Greenery Food System Act
Under the Greenery Food System Act (*1), the government certifies the business plans (infrastructure establishment business implementation plans) of machinery/material manufacturers that provide useful technology, etc. to agriculture, forestry, and fishermen working to reduce environmental load, and in addition, certified businesses can receive tax and financial support measures during capital investment, and farmers certified by prefectural governors based on the same law can receive confirmation of machines subject to tax exceptions when making capital investments.
As a result of an examination by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, EF Polymer obtained certification from the Minister of State (*2) as of Reiwa 5/8/9 (Wednesday).
Overview of EF Polymer's “Foundation Establishment Project Implementation Plan”
Through this project, EF Polymer aims to contribute to reducing the use of chemical fertilizers by working on research and development of 100% organic polymers using crop residues as raw materials.
We collect agricultural crop residues containing polysaccharides such as citrus fruits and seaweed in Okinawa Prefecture, and research the possibilities of EF polymers in diversifying raw materials based on these. In addition, we will conduct a demonstration experiment on the reduction effect of chemical fertilizer by using EF polymers at fields within the prefecture.
Photo: Mr. Takashi Fukushima, Director of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Department, Okinawa General Secretariat, Cabinet Office; EF Polymer CFO Hiroshi Yoshikawa from left
(*1) Act on promotion of environmental impact reduction business activities to establish food systems in harmony with the environment (Reiwa 4 Law No. 37)
(*2) Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Minister in charge of infrastructure establishment projects (Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry for the production and sale of agricultural machinery
About EF Polymer
We have developed an environmentally friendly 100% organic super absorbent polymer (SAP) that upcycled the residue of inedible parts of fruits, such as orange peels, and is expanding it globally as an agricultural material. Our company was established in 2019 by Indian entrepreneur Narayan Lal Gharjhar, who was 21 years old at the time, through the OIST Innovation Accelerator implemented by the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST) with support from Okinawa Prefecture. Currently, a team of about 30 people from India and Japan is working together to aim to become a solution leading to environmental problems centered on water shortages through the dissemination of our products.https://ja.efpolymer.com/
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