#Japan #Sweet Potato #CULTA #KANEKO SEEDS #Koganei, Tokyo

Joint Research Announcement

CULTA Inc. and Kaneko Seeds Co., Ltd. have started collaborative research focused on sweet potato breeding. This initiative aims to combat the challenges posed by climate change while ensuring sustainable production to meet growing global demand. The research will take place at Kaneko's Hashige Research Institute.

Background of the Research

Japan's sweet potatoes, renowned for their natural sweetness, have seen a remarkable increase in overseas exports, growing approximately 16.5 times over the past decade. In 2012, the export value was around 1.69 billion yen, which surged to about 27.89 billion yen by 2022, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. This substantial growth reflects international demand for high-quality Japanese sweet potatoes.

However, the sweet potato industry is facing significant challenges due to climate change, which has resulted in rising temperatures and other adverse environmental conditions. These changes are contributing to decreased yields and quality of sweet potatoes. To ensure sustainable production that meets both domestic and global demand, there is an urgent need for varieties that can adapt to the effects of climate change.

Overview of the Collaboration

This joint research leverages CULTA's extensive experience in high-speed breeding for strawberry, a similar polyploid crop. By integrating CULTA's advanced breeding technologies and methodologies into Kaneko Seeds' sweet potato breeding processes, the collaboration aims to develop more efficient breeding techniques. The synergy of their resources and expertise is expected to yield innovative approaches to enhance sweet potato varieties that are resilient to changing climatic conditions.

CULTA's advanced technology and Kaneko Seeds' breeding expertise and genetic resources will work hand in hand to accelerate the development of new sweet potato cultivars.

Company Profiles

Kaneko Seeds Co., Ltd.

• - CEO: Masahiko Kaneko
• - Headquarters: 1-50-12 Koichicho, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan 371-8503
• - Website: Kaneko Seeds

CULTA Inc.

• - CEO: Shuhei Noaki
• - Headquarters: 2-24-16 Nakacho, Koganei, Tokyo, Japan 184-0012
• - Website: CULTA

This partnership is a promising step towards a robust sweet potato industry that can thrive under the mounting pressures of climate change, ensuring that the cherished Japanese sweet potato continues to delight consumers both domestically and abroad.