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Oisix's Future Food Fund: Paving the Way for Sustainable Agriculture with Energy

In a significant move towards enhancing agricultural sustainability, Oisix, a prominent player in Japan's food subscription service sector, has taken a bold step by investing in Energy, a farming production corporation known as 株式会社栄農人 (Enaoin). This investment was executed through its corporate venture capital, Future Food Fund, marking the fund's 40th investment and its first major commitment to a farming production organization.

Located in Fujimi Town, Nagano Prefecture, Energy is transforming the agricultural landscape by addressing the pressing challenges Japanese agriculture faces. The industry is grappling with issues such as aging producers and labor shortages, exacerbated by climate change, which has created instability in food production. In response, Energy embodies the philosophy of 'bringing energy to Japanese agriculture' and has established a robust production base exceeding 200 hectares.

By employing a 'market-in' sales model, Energy directly responds to the needs of large retailers and dining chains, ensuring consistent supply and strong-profit margins. Their pioneering cold-chain logistics, which promises same-day delivery of harvests, have forged strong trust with retail partners.

Young and Dynamic Workforce Driving Change

One of the key differentiators of Energy is its youthful workforce, averaging just 26 years old. This next-generation team is not only motivated but is also empowered through systematic training and evaluation structures that foster a vibrant company culture. Energy encourages its young talent to actively participate and innovate, ensuring the agricultural sector evolves to meet modern demands.

Background and Future Outlook: Co-Creating Value in Agri-Tech

The rationale behind Future Food Fund’s investment stems from a profound admiration for Energy's exceptional production management skills, solid sales network rooted in direct contracts, and a visionary goal to transform agriculture into an area that inspires pride among the upcoming generations of workers.

Future Food Fund is confident that Energy’s aspirations for an initial public offering (IPO) will redefine growth models within the Japanese agriculture sector, presenting new opportunities for innovation and expansion. Through this investment, Future Food Fund aims to leverage its diverse network of Limited Partner enterprises to bolster Energy’s business scale while innovating.

Moreover, Energy’s extensive agricultural fields and advanced operational capabilities will serve as testing grounds for Agri-Tech startups, facilitating the early introduction and social implementation of pioneering products in Japan’s agricultural industry.

As Energy evolves into a 'research and development-centric Agri-Tech company,' the partnership with Future Food Fund aims to construct a next-generation agricultural platform that redefines the future of agriculture, integrating technology and traditional practices.

About 株式会社栄農人 (Energy)

• - Headquarters: Fujimi Town, Suwa District, Nagano Prefecture
• - CEO: Koichi Yanagisawa
• - Website: www.kingofkinoko.com
• - Business Focus: Production (shiitake mushrooms, lettuce, broccoli, strawberries, Shine Muscat grapes, etc.), processing, and sales.

CEO Statement

“We feel immense support with this investment from Future Food Fund. Japanese agriculture faces significant challenges such as an aging workforce and climate change. However, we are committed to innovating both production and distribution to establish a sustainable and profitable agricultural model. With this investment, we aim to further strengthen our national production base and market-in sales network, evolving agriculture into an industry that the next generation can approach with enthusiasm.” — Koichi Yanagisawa, CEO of 株式会社栄農人.

Remarks From Future Food Fund

This marks the first substantial investment that Future Food Fund has made in an agricultural production company. We believe that addressing the critical question of how we nurture the next generation of agricultural leaders is pivotal. Energy, in seeking to tackle this head-on, stands out significantly. Realizing an IPO from a regional base will showcase a new growth model for Japan's agricultural sector, and we are committed to supporting this journey.” — Hiroya Ota, Fund Manager, Future Food Fund.

About Future Food Fund

Founded in August 2019 by Oisix, Future Food Fund was established to build a startup ecosystem in the food domain. As a corporate venture capital fund, it aims to invest in innovative food and agriculture startups while providing support in sales and product development, thus shaping the ecosystem necessary for startups in Japan.

About Oisix

Oisix is dedicated to delivering safe and high-quality organic produce and minimally processed food products through their brands 'Oisix,' 'Radish Boya,' and 'Daichi wo Mamoru Kai.' The company's mission is to address social challenges related to food, envisioning a sustainable and innovative approach toward our future dining experiences and agricultural practices.