June 18, 2024
Keio University
As part of the branding and sales channel expansion initiative for "Kumamoto Akaushi," promoted under the "Kumamoto Akaushi Project" partnership agreement signed in 2019, the Kumamoto Prefectural Federation of Livestock and Agricultural Cooperatives (Representative Director and Chairman: Hiroyuki Aramaki; hereinafter, "Kumamoto Prefectural Federation of Livestock Cooperatives"), Higo Bank, Ltd. (President and Representative Director: Yoshihisa Kasahara; hereinafter, "Higo Bank"), and the Keio University Graduate School of Media Design (KMD) (Kohoku-ku, Yokohama; Dean: Masahiko Inakage) will ship the new "Ethical Wagyu - Kumamoto Akaushi" brand to domestic and international markets for the first time.
"Ethical Wagyu - Kumamoto Akaushi" is Wagyu that has been fattened by feeding it cashew nut shell liquid, a material expected to suppress methane gas emissions from cattle by approximately 36%. This material was provided by Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. (Representative Director and CEO: Shunichi Kito) and its group company, SDS Biotech K.K. (President and Representative Director: Toru Abe; hereinafter, "SDS Biotech"), who have supported this project since 2022.
By shipping and selling ethical Akaushi, which represents a new set of values, and by establishing a production and sales system based on evaluation criteria different from the current grading system, we aim to maintain a sustainable livestock industry and meat-eating culture that meets consumer needs.
Please see below for the full press release.