What Towing does

TOWING Co., Ltd. (株式会社TOWING) is a Nagoya University-originated Japanese agricultural biotech startup founded in February 2020 that develops, manufactures, and sells high-performance biochar products under the Soratan (宙炭) brand. Its core offering is a biochar-based soil technology in which over 1,000 soil microorganisms are cultivated onto biochar produced from regional unused biomass (primarily rice husks), co-developed with Japan's National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO). This High-Performance Soil Technology compresses conventional soil preparation timelines from 3–5 years to approximately one month and delivers validated average yield increases of 20%+ across 169 statistically rigorous field trials covering 36 crop types and 42 prefectures (as of July 2025).

The product portfolio includes Soratan (microbe-enriched biochar for professional farmers), Soratan Bulk (raw biochar without cultivated microbes), and services spanning regenerative agriculture transition support, J-Credit application proxy (rebate of ¥6,000–13,000 per 10a), enterprise carbon inset project development, and end-to-end biochar plant consulting. The SusVedge sub-brand certifies produce grown using Soratan as carbon-negative. Distribution is hybrid: nationwide agricultural supply stores and JA cooperatives for professional buyers, Sakata Tane's online shop for home gardeners, and direct enterprise sales for food and beverage corporations and local governments.

Commercialization accelerated meaningfully in 2025–2026. The company completed a ¥1.94 billion Series B in May 2025 led by Beyond Next Ventures with a broad strategic syndicate. In May 2026 it launched national Soratan distribution, and in June 2026 it opened a US subsidiary, a Thailand manufacturing base in Saraburi Province, and signed enterprise partnerships with Suntory Holdings (Kyushu beverage-residue biochar manufacturing), JICA (Brazil pasture restoration), and Aisin Takara (palm-residue biochar feasibility in Indonesia). Headcount is reported at 51–100; registered capital was ¥100M as of September 2023. Revenue figures are not disclosed.

Name

Towing

Legal name

株式会社TOWING

Website

https://towing.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Biochar and Soil Amendments

NAICS

Pesticide, Fertilizer, and Other Agricultural Chemical Manufacturing (3253)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)

akta.pro primary industry

Biochar & Carbon-Based Soil Conditioners (AFABADAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Biochar Production & Soil/Material Applications (EUABAFAC), Biochar Carbon Projects (Biomass to Biochar & Soil Application) (EUABABAH), Biofuel Plant EPC, O&M & Process Technology Providers (EUAAAHAK)

Keywords

• High-performance biochar
• Soil microorganism technology
• Agricultural soil amendments
• Carbon credit services
• Regenerative agriculture

Headquarters

HQ city

Nagoya

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Soratan and Biochar Product Sales: Sale of high-performance biochar 'Soratan' and Soratan Bulk (raw biochar) to professional farmers, home gardeners, and agricultural cooperatives. Products sold nationwide through agricultural supply stores, JA, and online channels.
2. Carbon Credit (J-Credit) Generation and Sales: TOWING acts as a proxy to apply for and sell J-Credits generated from biochar application to farmland. Proceeds from credit sales are partially returned to participating farmers (¥6,000–13,000 per 10a). TOWING is described as a domestic-scale biochar J-Credit provider since 2023.
3. Biochar Plant Setup Consulting: End-to-end consulting for launching biochar plants, including feasibility studies, facility design, business planning, LCA calculations, subsidy research, and voluntary carbon credit development and sales support.
4. Carbon Insetting Project Development: Support for corporations in developing carbon insetting projects within their supply chains using biochar. TOWING helps design, implement, and operate projects that generate environmental value, supporting Scope 3 emissions reductions for enterprise clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

TOWING manufactures and sells "Soratan" (宙炭), a high-performance biochar produced by cultivating over 1,000 soil microorganisms onto regionally sourced biomass-derived charcoal using its proprietary High-Performance Soil Technology co-developed with NARO. The company also sells Soratan Bulk (raw biochar without microorganisms) and provides soil analysis, J-Credit application, carbon insetting, and biochar plant setup consulting services to professional farmers, food/beverage corporations, local governments, and home gardeners.

Product overview

TOWING offers a portfolio of biochar-based agricultural products centered on Soratan, a high-performance biochar inoculated with over 1,000 soil microorganisms. The core product line includes Soratan (microbe-enriched biochar) and Soratan Bulk (pure biochar for soil enhancement), supported by services for regenerative agriculture transition, carbon credit creation via J-Credits, carbon insetting project development, and biochar plant setup consulting. The company also maintains SasVedge sub-brand for certified sustainable agricultural products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• サスベジ® (SusVegen): A sustainable agriculture brand operated by TOWING, for agricultural products cultivated using SORATAN and other sustainable agricultural materials. Produce grown under this brand contributes to carbon sequestration in soil.

Products and services

• Soratan (宙炭) — High-Performance Biochar High-functionality biochar produced by cultivating over 1,000 types of soil microorganisms onto rice husk-derived biochar using proprietary High-Performance Soil Technology. Reduces soil preparation from 3-5 years to approximately 1 month while improving soil's biological, chemical, and physical properties. Sold in 10kg (40L) bags for professional use and smaller formats for home gardeners.
• Soratan Bulk (宙炭用バルク) — Raw Biochar Premium biochar derived from rice husks and livestock manure, serving as a microbial habitat that improves soil permeability, water retention, and carbon sequestration. Available in 50L and 100L bags. Does not contain cultivated microorganisms (unlike Soratan). Some products available on trial basis.
• Regenerative Agriculture Transition Support (環境再生農業への切替支援) Soil analysis and fertilization design service using proprietary microbiota analysis technology to scientifically visualize soil conditions and derive optimal Soratan application plans for yield stabilization. Targets professional farmers transitioning to regenerative/organic practices.
• J-Credit Application Support (カーボンクレジット創出支援) Proxy service enabling farmers to monetize carbon storage from biochar application through Japan's J-Credit scheme. TOWING calculates CO2 reduction, files applications, and provides cashback (¥6,000-13,000 per 10a) to participating farmers. Free to participate; multi-year contract structure.
• Carbon Insetting Project Development Support (カーボンインセットプロジェクト開発支援) End-to-end carbon insetting project development support for enterprises, building supply chain internal reduction models using biochar technology to achieve Scope 3 emissions reductions for corporate clients.
• Biochar Plant Setup Consulting (バイオ炭Plant設立支援) Comprehensive consulting for launching biochar production plants, including feasibility studies, conceptual design, business planning, fixed carbon analysis, LCA calculations, subsidy research, and voluntary carbon credit development and sales support. Serves enterprises and local governments.
• SusVedge® (サ スベッジ) — Sustainable Agriculture Sub-brand Agricultural product brand for crops cultivated using Soratan and other sustainable agricultural materials. Enables producers to market produce as carbon-negative and environmentally friendly, with the SusVedge logo available for qualifying farmers to use on packaging and promotional materials.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20%+ average yield increase (169 validated trials, 36 crops, 42 prefectures, July 2025)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered notable, core and minor.

• 富士見工業 (Fujimi Kogyo) and 株式会社ニチノー緑化 (Nichino Green Co., Ltd.)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026Joint development and demonstration of eco-friendly turf grass cultivation using Soratan, in partnership with landscape/garden company Fujimi Kogyo and turf manufacturer Nichino Green. Aiming to create Japan's first biochar-derived carbon credits for the landscaping industry (as of June 2026, per TOWING research).
• アイシン高丘 (Aisin Takara)notableStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2026Joint feasibility assessment for carbon credit creation using palm residue-derived biochar in Kalimantan, Indonesia. TOWING and Aisin Takara are collaborating to evaluate the viability of biochar projects using palm oil by-products as raw material.
• サントリー (Suntory Holdings)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 June 2026Full-scale manufacturing of high-performance biochar using beverage manufacturing residues began in Kyushu region from June 2026. Joint pilot achieved approximately 30% yield improvement. Partnership aims to build a regional circular model for manufacturing residue utilization in Kyushu.
• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026TOWING received additional support from JICA to accelerate its high-functional biochar business in Brazil. Collaboration involves converting degraded pastures into productive agricultural land without further deforestation of Amazon forests. TOWING contributes its soil technology to Brazilian government's land restoration initiative.
• 国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構 (NARO — National Agriculture and Food Research Organization)coreTechnology or IntegrationTOWING's High-Performance Soil Technology was co-developed by fusing TOWING's proprietary biochar processing techniques and microbial cultivation technology with NARO-developed technologies. This joint development produced the 'Soratan' high-performance biochar product.
• サカタのタネ (Sakata Tane)notableChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSakata Tane distributes home garden/horticulture Soratan through its online shop (sakata-netshop.com). This is the exclusive consumer retail channel for the home garden version of Soratan, launched May 2026.
• North American Biochar Conference / Biochar IndustryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTOWING participated in the 2024 North American Biochar Conference in Sacramento with ~1,000 attendees. The company co-hosted Global Biochar Exchange 2025 to promote biochar technology awareness and collaboration.
• VIVE (Sustainable Sugarcane Initiative)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTOWING references VIVE as an example of industry-wide ecosystem building in sugarcane. Active in Thailand with sugarcane residue biochar projects for sugar industry supply chains.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Carbon Gold: UK-based biochar company producing biochar-based soil amendments enhanced with beneficial biology for agriculture and horticulture. Closely comparable to TOWING's Soratan product positioning (biochar + microbiology for agriculture).
• Carbofex: Finnish industrial-scale biochar producer selling biochar products to agriculture and carbon removal buyers. Directly comparable as a biochar producer targeting agricultural end-users with carbon credit monetization.
• Biochar Supreme: US-based biochar manufacturer producing biochar soil products for agriculture with carbon sequestration focus. Direct competitive overlap with TOWING on biochar-based soil amendments.
• Wakefield Biochar: US biochar producer focused on agricultural applications and carbon credit generation. Comparable as a vertically integrated biochar producer selling to farmers plus carbon market participants.
• Pacific Biochar: US-based biochar producer (Hawaii) manufacturing biochar products for agriculture, soil health, and carbon sequestration. Comparable scale and target market to TOWING's Soratan business.
• Novocarbo: German biochar producer operating industrial plants with carbon removal certificate sales. Directly comparable in combining biochar production with carbon credit monetization for agriculture.
• C-Green: Swedish biochar technology company developing industrial biochar plants with carbon removal focus. Comparable as a biochar plant technology provider pursuing carbon credit revenue alongside product sales.

Broad incumbents

• Puro.earth: Global carbon removal marketplace and registry that issues biochar carbon removal certificates. Comparable as a broader platform player enabling biochar carbon credit sales, overlapping with TOWING's carbon credit monetization strategy.
• Indigo Ag: US-based agricultural technology company monetizing agricultural carbon credits for Scope 3 supply chain reductions, with microbial seed treatments for crop productivity. Overlaps with TOWING on agricultural carbon credits and biology-enabled soil productivity.

Emerging players

• Loam Bio: Australian agtech combining microbial seed treatments with soil carbon credit generation for farmers. Emerging comparable on the biology + agricultural carbon credit intersection relevant to TOWING's microbial biochar positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/towing-co-ltd
• Xx.com/towing_0227

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors24 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Towing