Eco-Pork, a Japanese startup promoting digital transformation in pig farming, announced on November 28 that it had completed an equity and debt funding round worth approximately ¥1.4 billion (about $9 million).
The company was founded in 2017 by CEO Takashi Kambayashi, who holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and previously worked at Deloitte Tohmatsu Consulting, together with Director Shinsuke Arafuka, who also has a background at Deloitte Tohmatsu.
Why Digital Transformation Can Help Mitigate Protein Supply Risks
If the global population continues to grow at its current pace, it is projected to reach 10 billion by 2050, raising concerns over a potential “protein crisis,” in which sufficient protein cannot be supplied to all people.
While many companies—from major corporations to startups—are exploring alternative protein sources such as soy-based meat substitutes, Eco-Pork is taking a different approach. By digitizing pig farming, the company aims to reduce the burden on farmers while improving productivity and environmental performance, thereby contributing indirectly to the stability of protein supply.
Eco-Pork has developed and commercialized a cloud-based pig farming management system called “Porker.” The system visualizes breeding and fattening processes and enables traceability disclosure at the time of shipment. The company has also developed temperature and humidity sensors for pig houses, as well as AI-equipped cameras that monitor pig conditions and measure body weight. These devices can be integrated with the Porker platform.
According to the company, the number of pig farming operations in Japan declined from approximately 11,700 in 2000 to about 3,590 in 2021. Eco-Pork aims to address this structural decline through digital transformation and operational efficiency.
CEO Outlines Full-Scale Global Expansion
The November funding round included a personal investment by Tsuyoshi Tsuji, CEO of the cloud accounting company Money Forward, as well as participation from Keio Innovation Initiative, the venture capital arm of Keio University. The funds will be used primarily for product expansion.
Eco-Pork CEO Takashi Kambayashi commented:
“The cumulative funding amount of ¥5.3 billion reflects the scale of expectations and responsibility entrusted to us by society.
Eco-Pork has been rebuilding pig farming through the power of technology and data, striving to achieve both higher productivity and lower environmental impact.
This year, we exhibited at the World Pork Expo in the United States as a Japanese pig-farming DX startup and also launched initiatives to support the recovery of Ukraine’s pig farming industry. We are further accelerating our global expansion through participation in international forums, including COP-30 scheduled to be held in Brazil and the Japan–ASEAN Symposium, as well as through technical collaboration discussions in Europe under JETRO’s J-StarX program.
Through this funding, we will further expand these efforts and help shape a future of livestock farming in which people, food, and the environment coexist in harmony.”
