Announcements
Dec 30,2022
I will look back on this year's efforts that will lead to future growth.
2022 was a major milestone year for EF Polymer's business. In addition to welcoming new core management members, we received support from many people, such as receiving numerous domestic and international awards, being selected for grant projects, etc., and we were able to leave a track record that is an important milestone for the company's growth. We will all work together in 2023 with the aim of further growth and leaps forward.
Since introducing polymers to the Japanese market in 2020, ToC sales and handling agents have gradually expanded. In 2022, we delivered our polymers to over 50 farmers in the domestic market and are using them. In '21, we signed sales agreements with several agricultural associations (JA) companies centered around Okinawa, and we are now able to deliver to more farmers. Also, registration on the organic JAS material list was completed at the beginning of the year, so farmers who practice organic cultivation and consumers seeking it can use polymers with greater peace of mind.
As we aim to popularize polymers, we believe it is more important than anything else to understand the current situation of farmers and provide support to resolve issues. Therefore, starting this year, we started a project to regularly visit farmers and conduct hearings. Starting in the latter half of '22, we have already received the cooperation of about 100 farmers in about 3 months, and are hearing about problems and proposing improvement measures. We are proceeding with demonstration experiments in various regions to demonstrate the effects of polymers by region and by crop with farmers who can collaborate. We are currently testing 25 items at approximately 20 locations, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south.
At the beginning of the year, it received the “Minister of Environmental Startup Award,” which is the highest rank at the Reiwa 3rd Environmental Startup Awards hosted by the Ministry of the Environment, and in October, it was selected as “APAC Cleantech 25,” which recognizes private companies that are expected to contribute to society in the Asia-Pacific region in the future. Furthermore, it has been selected as an environmental grant project promoted by the PwC Foundation, and we are working to demonstrate the effectiveness of polymers for greening desertified areas in the Inner Mongolia region of China.
In terms of organization, 2022 was a year of major changes for the Japanese team. From the system of founder and CEO Ghaljal and operations manager Ishii, who have been doing business in Japan until now, 6 new members have been added, mainly COO Shimoji, CFO Yoshikawa, and R&D manager Yagisawa, to a total of 8 people. Also, next year, we will welcome 2 internship students and strengthen activities such as visiting farmers and disseminating information on social media.
For EF Polymer, which is headquartered in Okinawa Prefecture, working to contribute and give back to Okinawa is an important point for future growth. We are collaborating with the Onna village office and local farmers to resolve environmental issues through measures against red clay runoff, and we are also participating in a “recycling-oriented business model” that links strawberry production to tourism by teaming up with Onna Village, village hotels, farmers' markets, local companies, and local farmers. We will continue to expand our circle of collaboration and actively work to contribute not only to agriculture but also to industries within the prefecture.
