[Sanix Resource Development Group x MINORICA] Launching Verification of 'Strong Rice Farming' Resilient to Climate Change in Fukushima

Sanix Resource Development Group Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo / President: Hideki Takei; hereinafter "Sanix") and MINORICA Co., Ltd. (Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo / CEO: Yuya Hirata; hereinafter "MINORICA"), an agricultural startup with innovative plant enhancement technology, will jointly begin a verification trial in Fukushima Prefecture from April 2026 to establish a next-generation agricultural model for rice cultivation.

### The Vision: Confronting Climate Change and Labor Shortages In recent years, unstable harvests due to extreme heat and drought have become a life-or-death issue for farmers. This initiative began when MINORICA was selected for the "1stRound" entrepreneurship support program by the University of Tokyo IPC. By combining Sanix's expertise in resource circulation with MINORICA's advanced plant enhancement technology, the partners aim to transform regional agriculture—currently facing an aging population and abandonment—into a sustainable and highly profitable industry.

### Sanix's Strength: Circular Power to Eliminate Waste - **Liquid Waste Recycling:** Sanix produces and sells "Regenerative Oil Bio®," a substitute for heavy oil, from grease trap sludge discharged from restaurants. They are also conducting trials to refine this into raw materials for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). - **Plastic Waste Recycling:** They collect waste plastic from offices nationwide for thermal and material recycling. - **Contribution to this Project:** Utilizing their recycling expertise, Sanix aims to create fertilizer from food residue and weeds collected during farming to realize circular agriculture.

### MINORICA's Strength: Innovative Technical Capability - **A New Approach to Enhancing Metabolism:** Directly promoting metabolism, such as photosynthesis, inside plants to provide the energy needed to survive harsh environments. - **Versatility for All Crops:** Unlike breeding or genome editing, this technology utilizes metabolic pathways common to all plants, enabling improved resistance to high-temperature damage and accelerated growth across various species. - **Scientific Verification:** Quantifying metabolic efficiency using proprietary measurement methods to rigorously verify effects in actual fields.

### Benefits for Users (Farmers and Regions) - **"Profitable Farming":** Balancing cost reduction through resource circulation with increased yields and higher quality to boost farmer income. - **Stable Production Foundation:** In the future, Sanix intends to play a role in agricultural production across its nationwide bases to prevent the abandonment of farmland and ensure a stable food supply. - **Global Research Base:** In June 2026, MINORICA will move its base to the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University (OIST). This will allow them to deliver world-leading research results to the field quickly and boost the competitiveness of Japanese agriculture.

### Verification Trial Overview - **Location:** Field in Fukushima Prefecture (approx. 20a) - **Target Crop:** Paddy rice (rice) - **Period:** April 2026 – March 2027 - **Main Content:** Measuring metabolic efficiency, verifying impact on growth stability, yield, and quality.

### Future Outlook Based on the results of this trial, a business decision will be made. If viable, the partners will establish a "new farming model" that is environmentally and economically sustainable and expandable to various regions across Japan, contributing to the development of Japanese agriculture.

### Company Profiles **Sanix Resource Development Group Co., Ltd.** CEO: Hideki Takei Location: 19F Toranomon Kotohira Tower, 1-2-8 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo Business: Industrial waste treatment/recycling, efficiency proposals for waste management, electricity retail.

**MINORICA Co., Ltd.** CEO: Yuya Hirata Location: 3F HiRAKU GATE, 2-3-10 Mukogaoka, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Business: R&D and social implementation of plant enhancement technology.

**About Sanix Resource Development Group:** Established in May 2024 as a subsidiary of Sanix Holdings Co., Ltd. (TSE: 4651). Focused on waste-to-fuel, liquid waste purification, and electricity retail under the philosophy of "A comfortable environment for the next generation."