Sunshiki, Kochi University Spin-off Reducing Methane from Cattle, Selected for JETRO's J-StarX Australia Program

Sunshiki Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya, Tokyo; CEO: Ryo Kubota), a Kochi University spin-off developing proprietary land-based cultivation technology for Asparagopsis seaweed to reduce methane emissions from ruminants, has been selected for the Australia course of J-StarX, a startup overseas expansion support program run by JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization).

Through this program, we will accelerate business development in Australia — one of the world's leading livestock markets and a frontrunner in methane reduction technology adoption.

About the methane problem

Methane produced by ruminants such as cattle carries a global warming potential approximately 84 times that of CO₂, and cattle burp-derived methane alone is estimated to account for approximately 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Research by CSIRO (Australia's national science agency) has shown that adding small amounts of Asparagopsis to livestock feed can reduce methane emissions by up to 98%, attracting worldwide attention. However, the biggest bottleneck to commercialization has been building a stable and scalable supply chain.

About Sunshiki

Sunshiki holds proprietary land-based seaweed cultivation technology grounded in decades of cutting-edge research at Kochi University. We are working to solve the global challenge of stable Asparagopsis supply and accelerate decarbonization in the livestock industry.