Talk Event
- #Finished
The crQlr Meetup is an international event series organized by FabCafe and Loftwork, aimed at fostering organic connections among the makers of the future who are working towards a circular society.
At the crQlr MeetUp Tokyo, we will focus on the theme of “Our future, from the ground up”. The event will feature diverse speakers such as Takuto Nagata the Nagoya-based regenerative soil startup, TOWING, and Haruka Miki, Operations Officer at the Tokyo Development Learning Center, World Bank.
Tue, October 8, 2024 UTC+09:00
18:00 – 20:00
Soil is fundamental to our survival, serving as the foundation for agriculture, ecosystems, and communities. Around the world, where soil degradation has been exacerbated by industrial farming and urban expansion, the urgency to protect this resource is critical.
Healthy soil not only produces nutritious crops, supporting farmers and their livelihoods, but also plays a key role in regulating water filtration, maintaining biodiversity, and capturing carbon dioxide. Research indicates that soil acts as the second-largest carbon sink after oceans, sequestering more carbon than terrestrial plants combined. However, damaged soil releases stored carbon, exacerbating climate change, disrupting water systems, and threatening food security.
According to reports from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and studies from the Global Land Outlook by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), already, around 33% of the world’s soil is already degraded due to factors like erosion, deforestation, and unsustainable farming practices. This ongoing degradation continues to threaten ecosystems, food production, and carbon sequestration efforts globally.
-
About TOWING
TOWING, a Japanese startup born out from Nagoya University, developed Soratan, a microbial cultivation technology that accelerates soil creation from three years to one month. This method combines biochar and porous materials, improving soil productivity and carbon sequestration. Shogo Okisho highlights the ability to cultivate multiple bacteria in biochar, protected by intellectual property, enhancing crop yields and tackling climate change. Despite challenges in securing investment, Towing raised $7.7 million to scale production and expand globally, partnering with Japanese agricultural cooperatives to integrate their technology into traditional farming. Activities and research are also being actively conducted to apply this technology to the realization of space agriculture.
-
In addition to speaker Takuto Nagata (TOWING), joining us from Barcelona is Cecilia Tham, Future Synthesist and Principle at Futurity Studio, a design research and development studio. Cecilia’s initiative Plantiverse posits novel route for building an interspecies economy by integrating animals, plants, and the environment as participants and beneficiaries. Plantiverse has been honored by the Fast Company 2022 Innovation by Design Awards.
To shine light on the practical uses of soil technology, Haruka Miki, an operations officer at the World Bank, will contribute to the discussion coming from a perspective that specializes in urban regeneration, waste management, water supply, and sewage, all of which function to connect local urban examples to client countries aiming to become livable cities. Haruka has experience in Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. Before joining the World Bank, she worked at Morgan Stanley and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. Haruka holds a dual MPA from LSE and Sciences-Po Paris and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Hitotsubashi University.
-
-
BioClub is an open bio lab and community space that brings together artists, scientists, designers, and hobbyists interested in exploring biology and biotechnology. Based at FabCafe Tokyo, BioClub offers access to laboratory equipment and resources for bio-experiments, workshops, and projects. The club encourages cross-disciplinary collaboration by hosting events, such as talks and hands-on sessions, where participants can learn and experiment with bio-materials and biological processes. BioClub aims to democratize biotechnology, making it more accessible to the public and fostering innovation in the intersection of art and science.
-
Takuto Nagata
Chief Global Officer, TOWING Co., Ltd
Takuto Nagata is the Chief Global Officer at TOWING Co., Ltd, a climate and ag tech company. He manages the company’s overseas business in North America, South America, and APAC. The company develops microbial fermentation technology adapted for biochar, aiming to restore soil health and sequester carbon on farmland globally. Prior to TOWING, Takuto held several roles related to sustainable infrastructure investment at companies such as Sumitomo Corporation and Shizen Energy, where he worked on strategy development, partnership formulation, and equity financing. He holds a Master of Business Administration from IESE Business School (Europe) and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Keio University (Japan).
Takuto Nagata is the Chief Global Officer at TOWING Co., Ltd, a climate and ag tech company. He manages the company’s overseas business in North America, South America, and APAC. The company develops microbial fermentation technology adapted for biochar, aiming to restore soil health and sequester carbon on farmland globally. Prior to TOWING, Takuto held several roles related to sustainable infrastructure investment at companies such as Sumitomo Corporation and Shizen Energy, where he worked on strategy development, partnership formulation, and equity financing. He holds a Master of Business Administration from IESE Business School (Europe) and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Keio University (Japan).
-
Cecilia Tham
Future Synthesist and Principle at Futurity Studio
Cecilia is currently a Future Synthesist, at Futurity Studio, where she helps companies to ideate and prototype futures. She is a former Senior Social Technologist at Alpha Telefonica Innovation. As a serial entrepreneur, she is the founder of multiple companies, MOB, the largest co-working community in Barcelona, and FabCafe Barcelona, digital fabrication lab meets coffee shop, and allwomen.tech, an AI training school for women by women to build the next generation of women and tech. She has mentored for UNDP + 4YFN Women Innovator Programme, WFP-X, Google Launchpad, and has served on the board of advisor for the City Government of Barcelona.
Cecilia is currently a Future Synthesist, at Futurity Studio, where she helps companies to ideate and prototype futures. She is a former Senior Social Technologist at Alpha Telefonica Innovation. As a serial entrepreneur, she is the founder of multiple companies, MOB, the largest co-working community in Barcelona, and FabCafe Barcelona, digital fabrication lab meets coffee shop, and allwomen.tech, an AI training school for women by women to build the next generation of women and tech. She has mentored for UNDP + 4YFN Women Innovator Programme, WFP-X, Google Launchpad, and has served on the board of advisor for the City Government of Barcelona.
-
Haruka Miki
Operations Officer, Tokyo Development Learning Center (TDLC), Infrastructure, Disaster Risk Management, Urban Global Department, World Bank
Haruka is an operations officer, of the World Bank, working on connecting and disseminating the latest local urban examples to the World Bank client countries and cities that strive to become livable cities. Her focus themes are urban regeneration, waste management, water supply and sewage, and she has extensive experience in Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. Prior to joining the Bank, Haruka worked at Morgan Stanley (real estate securitization and municipal bond) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (sustainable cities and climate change). She holds a dual master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from London School of Economics (LSE) and the Paris Institute of Political Science (Sciences-Po Paris), and a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences (sociology) from Hitotsubashi University.
Haruka is an operations officer, of the World Bank, working on connecting and disseminating the latest local urban examples to the World Bank client countries and cities that strive to become livable cities. Her focus themes are urban regeneration, waste management, water supply and sewage, and she has extensive experience in Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. Prior to joining the Bank, Haruka worked at Morgan Stanley (real estate securitization and municipal bond) and the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (sustainable cities and climate change). She holds a dual master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA) from London School of Economics (LSE) and the Paris Institute of Political Science (Sciences-Po Paris), and a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences (sociology) from Hitotsubashi University.
-
Kelsie Stewart
FabCafe CCO
Kelsie joined Loftwork and FabCafe in 2017 and oversees the FabCafe Global network. In FabCafes across Asia, Europe and America, Kelsie strategizes and aligns Fab synergies to empower everyone to take the initiative to make and share their ideas with local and global communities. Kelsie is also the Tokyo organizer for the Global Goals Jam (GGJ), a two-day designathon and community which aims to create short term solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals. Kelsie has organized sustainability and design thinking workshops in Tokyo, Bangkok and Hong Kong.
Kelsie joined Loftwork and FabCafe in 2017 and oversees the FabCafe Global network. In FabCafes across Asia, Europe and America, Kelsie strategizes and aligns Fab synergies to empower everyone to take the initiative to make and share their ideas with local and global communities. Kelsie is also the Tokyo organizer for the Global Goals Jam (GGJ), a two-day designathon and community which aims to create short term solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals. Kelsie has organized sustainability and design thinking workshops in Tokyo, Bangkok and Hong Kong.
-
FabCafe Tokyo
-
BioClub
-
Date & Time
-
Tue, October 8, 2024 18:00 – 20:00 UTC+09:00
-
Venue
-
FabCafe MTRL
東京都渋谷区道玄坂1-22-7 道玄坂ピア2F
京王井の頭線 神泉駅 南口 徒歩3分
JR 渋谷駅 徒歩10分
03-6416-9190
View on Google Map -
Fee
-
Free
-
Capacity
-
45
-
Organizers & Sponsors
-