Selected for Ministry of the Environment's Blue Carbon Related Demonstration Project

Nichimo Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Shinya Aoki), in collaboration with Riken Foods Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Tagajo City, Miyagi Prefecture; President and CEO: Toru Miyazawa) and Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Hironori Morohashi), has been selected for the "Demonstration Project for Launching Large-Scale Demonstration Projects for Carbon Sink Measures such as Blue Carbon" (Subsidy Project) solicited by the Ministry of the Environment.

In recent years, efforts to achieve net-zero*1 have been promoted globally as a response to climate change. To achieve this, it is essential not only to reduce emissions through measures such as energy conservation but also to scale up carbon sink measures, such as blue carbon.

In this project, we will combine our company's seaweed cultivation materials with Riken Foods' seed and seedling production and cultivation technology, and Sumitomo Osaka Cement's materials to establish optimal methods for maximizing the productivity of seaweed cultivation. Our company's bio-degradable seaweed cultivation materials have yielded experimental results showing that the initial growth rate of seaweed is 4 to 5 times higher compared to conventional petroleum-derived materials, and are expected to be effective for efficient cultivation.

Our group continues to aim for carbon neutrality by 2050, promoting initiatives to reduce CO₂ emissions, and striving to be a company that contributes to society under our basic sustainability policy of "Pioneering a Course Towards a Sustainable Society."

Project Name Demonstration Project Aiming to Maximize Blue Carbon Effects through Improved Seaweed Cultivation Productivity

Implementation Structure - Applicant: Riken Foods Co., Ltd. - Joint Applicants: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd., Nichimo Co., Ltd. - Related Parties: Rikuzentakata City, Hirota Bay Fisheries Cooperative, National University Corporation Nagasaki University

Implementation Period Fiscal Year 2026 - Fiscal Year 2028 (3 years)

*1 Net-zero: Achieving a balance between greenhouse gas emissions and absorption/sequestration, resulting in zero net emissions.

Nichimo Company Overview Company Name: Nichimo Co., Ltd. (TSE Prime Market: 8091) Location: 2-2-20 Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0002 (Tennoz Ocean Square) Representative: Shinya Aoki, President and Representative Director Link: https://www.nichimo.co.jp/ Contact: General Affairs Department, General Affairs Team Tel: 03-3458-3020 Fax: 03-3458-3088