Kaneka : signs an agreement with Japan Tobacco Inc. to acquire assets related to plant biotechnology
August 23, 2020 at 09:36 pm EDT
Share
Kaneka Corporation (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Minoru Tanaka) has signed an agreement with Japan Tobacco Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Masamichi Terabatake, referred to below as JT) to acquire JT's assets related to plant biotechnology*1. The synergy produced by combining our unique genome editing technology and JT's research and development assets will accelerate Kaneka's initiative to provide solutions to food issues.
The objective of this asset acquisition is to significantly accelerate research and development of crop genome editing and to innovate conventional crop breeding, by taking advantage of Kaneka's core technology 'In planta Genome Editing Technology*2', which is highly efficient and applicable to a wide range of commercial crop varieties, and JT's state-of-the-art research facilities, global network with Ag-bio industry and cutting-edge gene delivery technology. Hereafter, we will accelerate research and development in a new organization, strengthen license business of gene engineering technology to seed companies, and conduct research and development of crop varieties with beneficial agronomic traits like functionality and high yields under contract with seed companies. Our future targets include seed business of genome-edited crop varieties, which is expected to grow rapidly.
Based on the concept that 'Kaneka thinks Wellness First', we provide solutions for safe, secure, and stable food supply. We will contribute to solutions to world food problems through open innovation.
Breeding technology to introduce beneficial traits such as disease resistance into plants (tissue culture technology, gene delivery technology, etc.)
Technology for rapid crop breeding that enables gene modification without integrating the gene cassettes of genome editing technology into the plant chromosomes
< General description of Japan Tobacco Inc.>
Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo
Description of business: The manufacturing and selling of tobacco, ethical pharmaceuticals, frozen and normal temperature processed foods, etc.
Representative: Masamichi Terabatake
Foundation: 1985
Capital: 100 billion yen
Attachments
Original document
Permalink
Disclaimer
Kaneka Corporation published this content on 24 August 2020 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 24 August 2020 01:36:02 UTC
KANEKA CORPORATION is a Japan-based company engaged in four business segments. The Material Solutions Unit segment includes general purpose vinyl chloride resin, caustic soda, polyvinyl chloride special resin, modifier, modified silicone polymer, biodegradable polymer. Quality of Life Solutions Unit segment includes expanded styrene resin and molded products, extruded polystyrene foam boards, bead method expanded polyolefin, solar circuit method, super heat resistant polyimide films, optical materials, super heat conductive graphite sheets, solar cells, storage batteries for housing and others. The Health Care Solutions Unit segment includes medical devices, low molecular weight pharmaceutical raw materials, biopharmaceuticals, etc. The Nutrition Solutions Unit segment includes functional food ingredients, margarine, shortening, baker's yeast, spices, antifreeze ingredients, functional fertilizers and feeds.