Showing 79 articles

Company News

The Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) first Asian investor into US-based Equilibrium's Agriculture Impact Fund

The Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) announced on November 19, 2020 that it will become the first Asian investor into US-based agricultural impact fund Equilibrium’s Controlled Environment Foods Fund II. This is Equilibrium's second fund investing in large-scale controlled environment agriculture. Meros has been fortunate to work alongside the DBJ team over the past year […]

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  • #agri-tech
  • #ESG investing
  • #impact funds
  • #impact investing
  • #investing
  • #Japan
Market Trends

New launches and trends in the Japan CBD scene

Last summer, Meros discussed the state of CBD in Japan. But nearly every week there are new launches and updates in Japan. We have been following trends in Japan’s CBD sector closely and here are a few of the recent highlights! New CBD restaurant opens in Ginza A concept restaurant called Today's CBD by ONE-INCH […]

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  • #cannabis
  • #CBD
  • #food innovation
  • #Japan
Market Trends

Coronavirus spurring change and innovation in Japan’s restaurants and retail sector

The coronavirus has hit the world hard and it's not slowing down. While the number of confirmed COVID19 cases in Japan has been relatively low compared to some other countries, the impact on the Japanese economy has been significant and has been spurring significant changes in the food service and retail industries over the past […]

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  • #corona
  • #COVID19
  • #food service
  • #innovation
  • #Japan
  • #marketing
Company News

Meros hosts J-IIN’s first webinar on impact investing and impact measurement

While things have been in a state of adjustment these last months with COVID 19 restrictions in place, we are moving our discussions online!   To kick it off, Meros hosted the Japan Impact Investing Network (J-IIN)’s first webinar on June 4 on the topic of  "Impact Investing 101".  Some of the key topics that were […]

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  • #ESG investing
  • #impact funds
  • #impact investing
  • #impact measurement
  • #Japan
  • #SDGs
Market Trends

CBD Products Making a Move into Mainstream Channels in Japan

CBD products are increasing in the Japanese market, taking steps to move from a niche product into mainstream channels. Although the Japanese government hasn’t explicitly legalized CBD (and continues to strictly ban cannabis itself and any trace of THC),  Japan allows importation of some types of CBD products as long as the products remain within […]

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  • #CBD
  • #export
  • #Japan
  • #marketing
Company News

Farming in the US during a Pandemic: Video "Report from the Farm" in Iowa

Iowa corn and soybean farmer April Hemmes gives a quick video update here on farming in May 2020, as she deals with both planting a corn crop and juggling the social distancing needs during corona restrictions. It’s a peek at her field, a look at her tractor and discusses changes brought to farming families and […]

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  • #agribusiness
  • #corn
  • #soybeans
  • #USA
Company News

COVID19 Update: Meros is Going Remote!

The safety of our Meros team and health of our Tokyo community is number one as we all work together to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Therefore as of March 30, 2020  Meros has moved primarily to remote work for the time being. This has not changed how to contact us, so please don’t hesitate […]

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  • #COVID19
  • #Meros
  • #Team Meros
Company News

Meros Welcomes Newest Team Member Hiroki Seki

We are excited to introduce our newest Meros member, Hiroki Seki. Hiroki joined us a month ago and is already diving deep into the mysteries of seafood trade and distribution in Asia. Hiroki has a background in public policy and management and previously worked for Ernst and Young (EY)’s consulting division in Tokyo. His recent work […]

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  • #Meros
  • #Team Meros
Market Trends

Insect Cuisine Takes the Stage in Tokyo

With all the talk in our food and agriculture world of alternative proteins and the potential of insect protein, this month’s Insect Experience Day was not something we could miss. The event was hosted by The Finnish Institute in Japan and Nishiogi Place to highlight the intersection of science, art and food and featured the […]

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  • #alternative proteins
  • #crickets
  • #insect protein
  • #Japan
Company News

Meros - USDA Food Export Guides to Japan Online Now

Meros recently teamed up with the US Embassy Japan’s Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) to develop a series of export guides that detail the regulatory requirements for 24 specific products, from cheese to chocolate, herbal tea to wine. While the aim is to support American SMEs who are interested in exporting food products to Japan, the […]

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  • #ATO Tokyo
  • #export to Japan
  • #import process guide
  • #Japan
  • #regulatory requirements
  • #USDA
Market Trends

Vietnam's Specialty Coffee Entrepreneurs are Tasting Success

Vietnam has a rich tradition of coffee drinking and coffee cultivation and in the past decades the country has grown into a global coffee exporting powerhouse and world’s largest producer of robusta coffee. However, much of Vietnam’s coffee exports are commodity coffee; robusta beans are often used as a base in coffee blends or coffee […]

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  • #coffee
  • #export
  • #field reseach
  • #Vietnam
Market Trends

Seafood sustainability, food safety and packaging innovation are highlights at the EU Seafood Expo

Meros Director Tina Peneva attended the annual Seafood Expo Global in Brussels (May 7-9, 2019) to learn about the latest trends in the seafood industry, reconnect with long-time Meros friends and discuss collaborations with new partners and industries. The show hosted over 2000 companies in the seafood sector from 88 countries, billing itself as the […]

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  • #bluefin tuna
  • #food safety
  • #Japan
  • #Myanmar
  • #Seafood Expo Global
  • #seafood industry
  • #seaweed
  • #sustainable development
  • #Turkey