BYWILL Inc. is pleased to announce that its project “Extension of the Mid-Drying Period in Paddy Rice Cultivation” (organisation name: “Okome Labo”) has been registered at the 58th J-Credit System Certification Committee on 26 January 2024, with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality in all 47 prefectures in Japan. The project is aimed at achieving carbon neutrality in the prefectures of Japan.

The J-Credit Scheme is a system under which the Japanese Government certifies the amount of greenhouse gas emission reductions achieved through the introduction of energy-saving and renewable energy facilities and the amount of greenhouse gases absorbed through appropriate forest management as ‘J-Credits’. Issued J-Credits can be traded with other companies, and purchasers of J-Credits can use them to achieve their own greenhouse gas reduction targets.

“Nakahoshi” refers to the process of controlling the growth of paddy rice during the growing season by draining the water from the paddy once before ear emergence to dry the paddy surface and prevent excessive offshooting (branching from the base of the rice plant). By extending the period during which this ‘Nakahoshi’ process is carried out, methane (a type of greenhouse gas) emissions from the soil can be controlled, and this is recognised as a method of creating J-credits.

In this project, the methane emission reductions achieved by rice farmers who have joined the ‘Okome Labo’ project by extending the period of medium-drying will be converted into J-credits on behalf of the company. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the J-credits is then returned to the paddy farmers.

BYWILL is promoting partnerships with financial institutions and local authorities across Japan with the aim of ‘local production for local consumption of carbon credits’. This ‘Okome Labo’ is the second project following the ‘Introduction of solar power generation equipment in homes and businesses (organisation name ‘Sorairo Labo’)’, which was registered in October 2023.