Geneva, Switzerland, Nov, 27 – A Tokyo-based all-round rice producer participated in an international conference on human rights at the United Nations European headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 27, 2019, and told the participants that its unique rice processing technology is contributing to the environment and people’s health while helping people to fulfill the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The company, Toyo Rice Corporation, says it’s the first Japanese corporation to make a presentation on SDGs at a U.N. meeting.
The three-day conference was held on November 25-27, 2019, with approximately 2,000 participants from 190 countries and regions all over the world.
According to Toyo Rice, the expansion of rinse-free rice, which is produced using the company’s technology called BG (bran grind) method, helped Japan to cut CO2 emissions by more than 500,000 tons from its sewage treatment processes. Also, the company recycles fine bran, one of the byproducts produced during the BG rice processing, to make organic fertilizers. This way, it helps farmers to meet the goal of recycling agriculture. With its various rice-related businesses, Toyo Rice has contributed to the achievement of 14 goals, including the one to “take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts,” out of 17 SDGs, the company said.
Keiji Saika, president of Toyo Rice, said, “(the report) will hopefully be the first step to show how we are making successful efforts to meet SDGs through its agriculture and rice culture.”