March 13, 2024
Kyushu University
Carbon Xtract Corporation
National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations
Sojitz Corporation
MUFG Bank, Ltd.

Partnership Agreement Concluded for Early Practical Implementation ofSeparation Membrane-based DAC Devices for Greenhouse Horticulture

Kyushu University, Carbon Xtract Corporation (“Carbon Xtract”), National
FederationofAgriculturalCooperative Associations(“ZEN-NOH”),

SojitzCorporation (“Sojitz”), and MUFG Bank, Ltd. (“MUFG Bank”) have concluded apartnership agreement as of March 13, 2024, for early practical implementation ofseparation membrane-based DAC devices (m-DACⓇ)*¹ that enable direct capture ofcarbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere and can be installed within horticultural
greenhouses*² in Japan.

Image of m-DACⓇ device(Created by Professor Yoshito Ogata’s Research Lab,
Faculty of Design, Kyushu University)

[Background]
Japan’s agricultural industry faces a labor shortage and an aging population, andthe country’s crop yields are trending in decline. Urgent measures are needed tomaintain agricultural infrastructure for domestic production. At the same time,
global warming is also greatly impacting agriculture. Under these circumstances, itis critical that farmers take proactive steps to reduce environmental burdens
through sustainable agricultural initiatives.
Carbon Xtract and Kyushu University conducted R&D for the small-scale
m-DACⓇ devices which will be introduced in horticultural greenhouses, and thesem-DACⓇ devices are highly anticipated to provide solutions to the issues facing theagriculture industry.
Increasing the CO2 concentration in greenhouses (CO2 application) promotes
photosynthesis of plants. Therefore, supplying higher CO 2 concentrations iseffective in increasing crop yield. The m-DACⓇ devices capture CO2 directlyfrom the atmosphere and supplies a concentrated CO2 stream in horticultural
greenhouses, contributing to improve crop yields and decarbonize agriculture.
Carbon Xtract and Kyushu University have therefore partnered with ZEN-NOH,
which possesses extensive farming expertise and a network of agricultural
cooperatives, to realize a new sustainable agricultural model in horticultural
greenhouses. Sojitz and MUFJ Bank have joined these three institutions aspartners in this partnership agreement in order to accelerate decarbonization
within the farming industry.
[Sustainable Initiatives]
ZEN-NOH’s research facilities will be used to conduct planned future
development and demonstration trials of CO2 dosing machines that utilize theoptimized m-DAC Ⓡ for installation within greenhouses. Additionally, Sojitz andMUFJ Bank’s company networks, financing function, and business-building
function will be leveraged for early practical implementation of the m-DACⓇ devices.
All five institutions aim to create carbon credits through installation of these mDACⓇ devices.

Kyushu University, Carbon Xtract, ZEN-NOH, Sojitz Corporation, and MUFG
Bank strive to expand use of m-DACⓇ devices to greenhouses across Japan inorder to contribute to both decarbonization of agriculture and to maintain andraise domestic agricultural production infrastructure.
*1 m-DAC®: A direct air capture (DAC) technology based on nanomembrane
separation that captures CO2 directly from the atmosphere. Kyushu University isadvancing the development of m-DAC® technology, which captures CO2 by simply
passing air through membranes having the world’s highest CO2 permeability.
*2 Horticulture greenhouses: Greenhouses used for growing crops that are madeusing glass or plastic film coverings to increase light permeability.

[Related Information][Overview of Kyushu University]
President

Tatsuro Ishibashi

Established

January 1st, 1911

Websitehttps://www.kyushu-u.ac.jp/en/[Overview of Carbon Xtract Corporation]
President

Tetsuo Moriyama

EstablishedMay 26th, 2023

Websitehttps://c-xtract.com/

Carbon Xtract Corporation is a startup established through cooperation between
Kyushu University and Sojitz. Carbon Xtract aims to realize early productcommercialization and utilization of m-DAC® devices to become a leading company
in the small-scale and distributed DAC market.
[Overview of National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations]
President & Sakae Noguchi
CEO
EstablishedMarch 30th, 1972

Websitehttps://www.zennoh.or.jp/english/index.html

[Overview of Sojitz Corporation]
President & Masayoshi FujimotoCEO
Established

April 1st, 2003

Websitehttps://www.sojitz.com/en/[Overview of MUFJ Bank, Ltd.]
President & Junichi Hanzawa
CEO
Established

August 15th, 1919

Websitehttps://www.bk.mufg.jp/global/[For questions, contact:]
Kyushu University

koho@jimu.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Carbon Xtract Corporation

info@c-xtract.com

ZEN-NOH Agribusiness General Planning Div.
Greenhouse Business Section＋81－3－6271－8269

Sojitz Corporation Public Relations Dept.
MUFJ Bank, Ltd.

+81－3－5218－1814+81－3－6871－3404