NTT Corporation has launched NTT Green & Food Corporation, a company using artificial intelligence, IoT (internet of things) and other information communications technologies to develop sustainable food production systems. Through the creation and implementation of carbon dioxide conversion processes, the new organisation, a joint venture with Regional Fish Institute, initially aims to solve future food shortages while mitigating negative environmental impacts associated with onshore seafood production.
The commercialisation of NTT Green & Food’s carbon dioxide conversion system is divided into three processes:
A. Production and sale of algae: Algae use carbon dioxide through photosynthesis while they grow. By utilising NTT technologies including algae breeding technology mass cultivation technology that adjusts to achieve the optimal temperature, humidity, nutrients and light intensity for algae production it is possible to engineer the algae to store more carbon dioxide in their bodies than usual while also activating photosynthesis and increasing the growth rate of the plants.
Algae, which contain DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), are used as food for fish and shellfish, as well as an agricultural fertiliser due to their high nutritional value. NTT Green & Food will initially provide algae to aquaculture operators and farmers facing soaring feed and fertiliser costs due to recent price surges in raw materials.
B. Production and sale of seafood: By utilising the algae developed in Process A as a food fish source, NTT Green & Food aims to increase the growth rate for regional fish. In addition, by utilising breeding-improvement technology in land-based aquaculture facilities, NTT Green & Food can reduce the impact of natural disasters, parasites such as Anisakis and the risk of infectious diseases on production. Furthermore, recycling breeding water containing excrement from fish and shellfish as nutrients for algae will minimise water waste. The seafood produced from this project will be provided to distributors, wholesalers and processors.
C. Development and provision of a sustainable land-based aquaculture system: Finally, the company will develop a holistic, land-based aquaculture system to produce the consumables outlined in processes A and B. This system will consist of three plants: a plant that produces fish and shellfish, a plant that produces the algae to feed them and a water purification plant that purifies fish and shellfish excrement. Full commercialisation would include sales of the system to third parties through NTT Corporation and its operating companies.
By collaborating with local companies in production, processing and sales, the NTT Green & Food aims to create jobs, promote local industries and contribute to the development of sustainable local communities by providing educational opportunities for aquaculture and environmental protection technologies. In addition to reducing the impact on the natural environment, it will also reduce the risk of parasites and infectious diseases, thereby enabling safe, secure and high-value-added seafood production.
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