Los Gatos, CA – September 30, 2025 – SVG Ventures, a leading global agri-food innovation and investment firm, today announced that its Sunrise Agri Fund, a $50 million corporate venture capital fund established in 2024 in partnership with Kagome Co., Ltd., has completed an investment in EF Polymer K.K., (Okinawa, Japan). EF Polymer develops and sells 100% biodegradable, high-absorbency polymers derived from plant-based raw materials that help farmers conserve water and improve resilience in open-field agriculture.
The investment comes at a time when climate change and water scarcity are placing increasing pressure on farmers worldwide. EF Polymer’s biodegradable water-retention technology provides a sustainable solution to mitigate drought and optimize water use.
“EF Polymer’s biodegradeable absorbent polymers represent a powerful innovation at the intersection of sustainability and productivity,” said John Hartnett, Founder & CEO of SVG Ventures | THRIVE. “Through the Sunrise Agri Fund, we are excited to support EF Polymer in scaling this important technology globally and helping farmers address the critical challenges of climate change and water scarcity.”
Through this investment, SVG Ventures and Kagome will work closely with EF Polymer to accelerate commercialization and expand access to its solutions across global agricultural supply chains, advancing a shared mission to promote sustainable and resource-efficient farming.
Founded in 2018, EF Polymer K.K., is headquartered in Okinawa, Japan, with operations in India and a growing international presence. Its mission is to deliver sustainable agricultural solutions that empower farmers and safeguard natural resources.
The Sunrise Agri Fund, managed by SVG Ventures, invests in innovative technologies that drive sustainability and resilience in agriculture, with a focus on areas including breeding technologies, pest management, resource-efficient farming, and sustainable open-field crop production.
SVG Ventures | THRIVE is a global agrifood innovation platform headquartered in Los Gatos, California. With a community of more than 10,000 startups across 100+ countries, THRIVE works with Fortune 500 corporations, investors, and growers to advance innovation and sustainability in the food and agriculture sectors.
