SEMINAR TIMETABLEMIDORI∞INFINITY -Mobilizing Climate Finance through Multi-Sector Collaboration-

The AFOLU (Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use) sector is one of the world’s major sources of GHGs emissions, yet measures have not been taken sufficiently. On the other hand, interest in overseas deployment of GHG emission reduction technologies is growing amongJapanese private companies and startups, and some already leverage investment and financing from domestic and international financial institutions to expand abroad. In response, MAFF formulated “Initiative for Net-zero compatible with Food security through INternational expansion of Innovative TechnologY (in short, MIDORI∞INFINITY)” to mobilize public–private climate finance into the AFOLU sector. To implement this initiative, MAFF established “MIDORI Decarbonization Overseas Deployment Consortium.” This consortium seeks to attract decarbonization investment into the agri-food sector and expand markets for Japanese agri-food companies in climate-related businesses. This seminar aims to mobilizing climate finance into the AFOLU sector by showcasing collaboration between financial institutions, government agencies and the private sector, and offering forum to discuss challenges and prospects in generating projects.

Opening Remarks

NARUSE Kumi｜CEO, Renyo Kako

Opening Remarks

KUBOTA Osamu｜Deputy Assistant Minister, Export and International Affairs Bureau, MAFF

Session ①

BABA Wataru｜Moderator / CEO, Green Impact Labs
MATSUMOTO Kenta｜Section Chief, MAFF
Borareaksmey LONG｜General Director, Green Carbon, Inc.
SAKAMOTO Kazuki｜Director, Faeger Co. Ltd.

Session ②

BABA Wataru｜Ditto
Luiz Gabriel Todt de Azevedo｜Managing Director, Inter American Development Bank (IDB) Invest
NAKAMURA SHIGEO｜President & CEO, Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
Lloyd DAY｜Deputy Director General, Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture（IICA）
KUBOTA Osamu｜Ditto

Closing Remarks

Seyni NAFO｜Co-Chair, Green Climate Fund (GCF)

In the opening remarks, Mr. KUBOTA, Deputy Assistant Minister, MAFF introduced the current situation that climate funding allocated to the agriculture and forestry sector remains only 4% while this sector accounts for 22% of GHG emissions, as well as relevant approaches based on the “MIDORI∞INFINITY”.
In the session on AWD in paddy fields, the latest developments, including the Philippines' AWD methodology under the JCM, were introduced. Progress toward the first AWD-JCM crediting, Japan’s related methane-reduction efforts, and opportunities for broader international expansion were also discussed.
In the session on the livestock, the utilization of climate finance through collaboration between the private sector and financial institutions was discussed among IDB, IICA, private companies, and MAFF.
In the closing remarks, GCF highlighted the need to strategically mobilize public and private funds for the agricultural sector.
Throughout this seminar, participants shared insights on collaboration models for AWD-JCM projects between the private sector and government agencies, as well as examples of climate-finance collaboration between the private sector and financial institutions.