Chitose Laboratory Corporation (hereinafter, Chitose), a core corporation of the Chitose Group, will cooperate as a technical supervisor in the "Farm Area" exhibit, which will feature algae, at the Japanese Government Pavilion (hereinafter, Japan Pavilion) at the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo, as part of the theme adopted by the "Green Innovation Fund Project (hereinafter, GI Fund Project)" of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).
Algae takes center stage in the Japan Pavilion's "Farm Area" <br>The Japan Pavilion is made up of three areas - the "Farm Area," "Plant Area" and "Factory Area" - with the theme of "Between Life and Life." The circular pavilion is equipped with mechanisms that create all kinds of "cycles," such as ecosystem cycles and resource cycles, and is designed to make visitors realize that they themselves are alive in connection with all life, and that they are part of the greater cycle that is the Earth.
In the farm area, algae plays a central role, as it has infinite possibilities as a means of resolving social issues such as excessive dependence on limited fossil resources and food shortages. Algae efficiently store solar energy through photosynthesis and produce a variety of organic matter, which can not only be used as food or feed as is, but can also be processed into raw materials for a variety of applications, including fuel, food, cosmetics, chemical products and feed, and is therefore attracting attention as an important factor in building a recycling-oriented society.
About Chitose’s Algae Business
The Chitose Group has set a vision of "More abundance for the next thousand years with the power of living creatures," and has been focusing on algae and developing algae-related technologies to promote the bio-based industry in all industries. In 2021, we launched the "MATSURI" project to build an algae-based industry in collaboration with players from various industries across positions and industries, and are simultaneously expanding production scale and developing diversified applications to popularize algae products that support people's lives.
Photobioreactor
In terms of expanding the scale of algae production, we completed construction of a 0.1 ha facility in August 2018, and a 5 ha facility, CHITOSE Carbon Capture Central (C4), in April 2023*1. We are currently preparing to open a 100 ha facility*2. These facilities use a flat-panel photobioreactor, a unique device that efficiently uses light energy and can grow algae in a small amount of water. In the farm area of the Japan Pavilion, as one of the main exhibits, algae cultivation using a photobioreactor will be carried out during the event. CHITOSE is also cooperating as a technical supervisor for algae-related exhibits other than this photobioreactor.
CHITOSE Carbon Capture Central (C4)
We believe that this cooperation with the exhibition is an unprecedented opportunity to utilize the world-leading technology and knowledge that Chitose has cultivated to date to spread the potential of algae and other bioeconomy to the world. Through technical supervision of the exhibits in the Japan Pavilion's "Farm Area," we hope to contribute to the development of the algae industry by raising awareness of a sustainable future among many people.
*1 This is the result of NEDO's bio-jet fuel production technology development project.
https://www.nedo.go.jp/activities/ZZJP_100127.html
*2 This is the result of a research and development project adopted by NEDO's Green Innovation Fund.
https://green-innovation.nedo.go.jp/project/bio-manufacturing-technology/
MATSURI Project
https://matsuri.chitose-bio.com/
Chitose Group, which has strengths in large-scale algae production and commercialization using sunlight as the only energy source, is leading this project to build an algae industry that has never been achieved before, together with industry, government and academia. As the name MATSURI, which stands for Resilient Industry, suggests, we aim to create a festival that will remain in the history of mankind, and to create a sustainable society through the use of algae. MATSURI is open to all, regardless of industry or size, in order to build an algae industry. We look forward to the participation of various companies. For inquiries, please contact us here .
<Chitose Group Overview>
https://chitose-bio.com/jp/
Chitose Group is a group of companies that aims to build an industry based on photosynthesis using the power of living organisms in order to leave a global environment where humans can live in abundance for the next thousand years. Since our founding, we have been leading the development of the global bioeconomy through the development and accumulation of highly practical technologies in cooperation with many countries and companies, mainly in Japan and Southeast Asia.
Overview of "CHITOSE BIO EVOLUTION PTE. LTD.", which oversees the entire Chitose Group
・Established: October 2011 ・Headquarters: Singapore ・Representative: CEO Tomohiro Fujita Ph.D.
◯ Overview of "Chitose Laboratory Co., Ltd.", which is the core corporation of the Chitose Group and engages in technological and business development ・Established: November 2002 ・Headquarters: Kawasaki City, Kanagawa Prefecture ・Representatives: CEO Tomohiro Fujita Ph.D. / COO Rie Kugimiya
＜Japan Pavilion Overview＞
https://2025-japan-pavilion.go.jp/overview/
The Japan Pavilion is the base for the presentation of the theme of the Osaka-Kansai Expo, "Designing a Future Society for Life," as the host country. The theme is "Between Life and Life." By creating a "circulation" within the museum, we provide an opportunity for people to realize that they are alive in connection with all other life, and that they are part of the great cycle that is the Earth.
＜Related Information＞
[Monthly Japan Pavilion] [Exhibition No. 1] "Hello Kitty" appears at the Japan Pavilion! Hello Kitty dressed as 32 types of "algae" that are key to solving social issues is unveiled
