24/07/2023 (Japan/ Cambodia) - The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) jointly hosted a symposium in Cambodia to introduce eight Japanese companies with cutting-edge technologies to local private sector firms and other institutions involved in the country's agriculture development. The event took place on August 11, 2023, in Phnom Penh, where representatives from Agribuddy Limited, Asuzeto Singapore Pte Ltd/Asuence Ince (Japan), Green Carbon Inc, Nippon Koei Co Ltd, Sagri Co Ltd, Synspective Inc, Tenchijin Inc, and Yanmar Agribusiness Co Ltd met with relevant local firms and institutions.
Green Carbon and Sagri collaborated with Cambodian farmers on carbon credit development and sale. Green Carbon employed alternate wetting and drying technology (AWD) to control water usage in crop fields, such as rice fields, reducing methane emissions. The company sold carbon credits to Japanese firms under the Joint Crediting Mechanism (CJM) between Cambodia and Japan, with profits shared between the firm and the farmers.
Sagri, a Japanese university start-up, provided soil analysis and carbon credit business using satellite data and Artificial Intelligence (AI). They used AI to detect soil conditions and suggested appropriate fertiliser use for Cambodian farmers, reducing polluting gas emissions and generating carbon credits for sale.
JETRO disseminated the project to various business associations and private firms in Cambodia, including the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cambodia, Khmer Enterprise, Techo Startup Centre, Ly Hour Group, Mong Riththy Group, and others. JETRO's Chief Representative in Phnom Penh, Haruta Marisa, also held discussions with the President of CRF, Chan Sokheang, to explore possibilities for a pilot project in reducing polluting gas emissions and selling carbon credits in collaboration with CRF's members working with farmers.