Sigma Establishes Farm Company to Grow Rice

Alongside announcing a pair of new photographic lenses today, the Sigma 15mm f/1.4 DC Contemporary and the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG II Art, the Sigma Corporation also announced that it will establish the Sigma Aizu Farm Corporation on April 1, 2026, and begin agricultural cultivation operations in the Aizu region where it is headquartered and makes all its cameras and lenses.

“As a company that has been long supported by the nature and people of Aizu, Sigma aims to further clarify its commitment to regional contribution and to a manufacturing philosophy that coexists in harmony with the natural environment,” Sigma says.

Sigma’s Aizu factory has long been the historic photo company’s only production site. It has become deeply integrated and highly important to the Aizu region, located north of Tokyo in Fukushima Prefecture.

“The skills and spirit cultivated here have shaped Sigma’s quality and remain the driving force behind delivering ‘Made in Aizu, Japan’ products to customers worldwide,” Sigma continues.

However, Aizu, like many places in Japan, has experienced a shortage of new agricultural operations and an increase in abandoned farmland.

“As a result, satoyama landscapes, ecosystems, and local cultural heritage are gradually being lost, beginning with rice paddies that have long retained abundant water and supported the region’s natural cycles,” the photo company says.

In response to this growing concern in the Aizu region, Sigma believes it has an important responsibility to actively help protect Aizu’s natural environment and help support local livelihoods in the area where it continues to manufacture its products.

“Starting rice cultivation through Sigma Aizu Farm is a concrete initiative aimed at sustaining Aizu’s culture, landscapes, and ways of life for the future by maintaining and cultivating rice paddies and farmland,” Sigma says.

Through its Sigma Aizu Farm initiative, the company will cultivate rice and use the harvested produce to feed its employees in the Sigma Aizu factory cafeteria and its corporate headquarters in Kawasaki.

“By shifting from a position of simply receiving the blessings of the land to one of directly giving back to the region, Sigma embarks on a new chapter — contributing to the preservation of the local environment and culture through rice cultivation, while also helping to create traditional and stable employment in the Aizu region,” Sigma concludes.

Sigma says it will begin planting rice in early summer this year and hopes to have its first harvest in the autumn. Over the winter, the company will begin rice milling and then distribute its rice to employees.

This move is also part of Sigma’s broader environmental and sustainability initiatives, which champion not only more responsible production practices but also the creation of products that inspire people worldwide. Sigma acts in accordance with six promises, one of which is supporting regional development initiatives and actively fostering the social and cultural development of the areas where it operates. The new Sigma Aizu Farm project directly satisfies this core guiding principle.

Image credits: Sigma