Press Release

NX Group invests in AI- and robot-driven smart agriculture technology developer and seller AGRIST

October 7, 2024

-- Working to solve the challenges faced by agri-food systems in Japan and around the world --

NIPPON EXPRESS HOLDINGS, INC. (President: Satoshi Horikiri) acquired a stake in AGRIST Inc. (President: Junichi Saito, hereinafter "AGRIST") via the NX Global Innovation Fund, and on September 30 concluded a capital and business alliance agreement with AGRIST, a developer and seller of AI- and robot-driven smart agriculture technologies.

■ Profile of AGRIST

AGRIST is a start-up company that uses technology to solve agricultural issues. The average age of Japanese farmers is now 68 years old, and urgent measures are needed to address agricultural issues stemming from an aging workforce and labor shortages. AGRIST helps resolve these agricultural and global food problems and thereby contribute to global well-being by enabling the next generation of technology-enabled agriculture through the development of harvesting robots and software.

■ Investment background and objectives

　

Current food production and consumption practices face many challenges that threaten the global environment and food security. To adapt to the effects of climate change and to feed a population of over 8.2 billion people, the way food is produced, distributed, and consumed in the global agri-food system needs to be revamped. The aging of the farming population and labor shortages are serious issues in Japan, where declining food self-sufficiency is also a concern.
The NX Group is working to enhance its corporate value and solve social issues to realize its long-term vision of becoming a logistics company with a strong presence in the global market. By investing in AGRIST, a company that promotes smart agriculture by utilizing digital technology at every stage from production to distribution, processing, and sales, the Group will endeavor to solve issues facing agri-food systems in Japan and around the world.

■ Initiatives

• 1. Value co-creation with NX AgriGrow
  NX AgriGrow's farm in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture, which produces mainly leafy vegetables such as coriander and spinach, will implement Smart Agriculture DX based on AGRIST's AI-based environmental control technology to further improve productivity.
• 2. Joint agricultural demonstrations with local Japanese governments
  The NX Group will work with local governments in Hokkaido, Kyushu, and other regions of Japan on joint demonstration projects related to agriculture, including the use of DX to improve logistics efficiency based on yield forecasts, select optimal destinations for shipments, and provide other concrete verification of the best approaches to logistics services in the era of smart agriculture.
• 3. Innovation in agri-food systems overseas
  AGRIST plans to expand its business to the United States, China, India, Africa and elsewhere. The NX Group's global network will be utilized in the export of automatic harvesting robots and in logistics and distribution overseas, and the two companies will work together to solve the world's agricultural issues.

The NX Group will continue leveraging its domestic and international networks to co-create with promising start-ups.

■ Profile of investee

Company name	AGRIST Inc.
Head office location	Tonda Higashi 1-47-1, Shintomi Town, Koyu District, Miyazaki Prefecture (in Shintomi Agri-Valley)
Date established	October 24, 2019
Representative	Junichi Saito
Number of employees	35
Description of business	AI agriculture: development of AI-based agricultural software Agricultural robotics: development of AI-based automatic harvesting robots Smart agriculture: sales of smart agriculture packages
Website	https://agrist.com/about-agrist-english