Why are we involved in Pesticides/Functional feed business?
Idemitsu Group’s “food” initiatives
With "food safety and security" and "responding to increasing food demand" as our key concepts, we are engaged in research, development, manufacturing, and sales of chemical pesticides, biological Pesticides/Functional feed and other products.
Why is our group involved in Pesticides/Functional feed business?
"Food" is one of the important industries that support human energy, which is essential for economic activity. Idemitsu Kosan is involved in the petroleum industry, an important energy industry that supports the global economy, and we are working on Pesticides/Functional feed businesses, believing that they are the same as businesses that support people's lives.
Based on this philosophy, Idemitsu has continued to accumulate microbial-related technologies since the 1970s with the aim of creating agricultural chemicals and Feed Additive, aiming to create products using microorganisms.
In addition to creating products to increase food production, we are also targeting the creation of environmentally friendly livestock materials and bio-pesticides, etc., utilizing the technology accumulated in Pesticides/Functional feed businesses, with the aim of contributing to a recycling-oriented society. As part of this initiative, we are promoting technological innovation in collaboration with academia and startups, and are working on "biomassification" using smart cells * that maximize the production volume of the target product. In the future, we aim to build a complete biomanufacturing chain, from securing raw materials to manufacturing useful substances using smart cells.
As a company that supports people's lives, Idemitsu will continue to engage in research and development of agricultural chemicals and Feed Additive that support food.
*Smart cells: Organisms and cells that maximize the production of desired products through a combination of genetic modification technology and information analysis.
The core of our research base consists of the Tokorozawa Research Department (Tokorozawa Laboratory) and the Yuki Research Department (Yuki Laboratory) of AGRO-KANESHO, as well as the Tsukuba Research & Technology Center of SDS Biotech.
Each of these facilities is composed of researchers with various technical backgrounds, including organic chemistry, biology, biochemistry, analytical chemistry, and physical chemistry. Through active communication among researchers, new ideas are generated, and efficient research activities are being conducted.
At AGRO-KANESHO, compounds newly synthesized at the Tokorozawa Laboratory are evaluated for their effectiveness at the Yuki Laboratory, leading to the discovery of agents that can transition to pesticide registration development. The company particularly excels in the development of insecticides aimed at controlling pests such as mites and nematodes.
Additionally, at the Tsukuba Research & Technology Center, a wide range of research and development, primarily focused on fungicides and herbicides for rice, is conducted in collaboration with the company's Minori Agricultural Experimental Station.