Plant Breeding Institute

What Plant Breeding Institute does

Plant Breeding Institute Co., Ltd. (株式会社植物育種研究所) is a Hokkaido University spin-off venture company founded in 2000 and incorporated in 2003, specializing in onion and allium vegetable breeding. The company applies over 20 years of proprietary conventional cross-breeding expertise, with each onion generation requiring a two-year cycle, to develop exclusive functional onion varieties. Its commercially deployed product portfolio includes Sarasara Red, a quercetin-rich functional onion; Sarasara Gold, a complementary functional golden onion; and Smile Ball, a tear-free mild onion co-developed with House Foods Group. The company operates a 40,000 m² research farm with 50 vinyl greenhouses in Kuriyama, Hokkaido, supported by an affiliated farmland-holding entity, Sweet Onion Co., Ltd.

The business operates five revenue streams: proprietary seed production and sales (domestic and international), wholesale distribution of branded functional agricultural products, commissioned seed production at its Hokkaido facility, commissioned research and testing for universities, government agencies (MAFF, NARO, AIST) and food manufacturers, and lectures at academic institutions including Hokkaido University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Osaka Prefecture University. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer e-commerce (sarasara-red.com) with B2B wholesale and international seed export channels. The company also engages in JICA international agricultural technology assignments through its founder/president Daisaku Okamoto.

The company's customer segments are Japanese farmers seeking differentiated high-value crops and B2B partners including food manufacturers, seed companies, restaurants, and trading companies. Founder-controlled and privately held with no disclosed external investment, the company holds multiple government recognitions, including METI 'Regional Future Driving Enterprise' and inclusion in the SME Agency '300 Companies' list. Pricing is not publicly disclosed.

Name

Plant Breeding Institute

Legal name

株式会社 植物育種研究所

Website

https://ikushu.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Plant Breeding Institute is a Hokkaido University spin-off that breeds proprietary functional onion varieties (Sarasara Red, Sarasara Gold, Smile Ball) for Japanese farmers and B2B food manufacturers, monetizing via seed sales, branded produce, and commissioned research.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vegetable Seed Production and Plant Breeding

NAICS

Other Vegetable (except Potato) and Melon Farming (111219), Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Plant Breeding & Variety Development (Conventional) (AFAGAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Vegetable Seeds (Open-Pollinated & Hybrid) (AFABAFAE), Greenhouse Vegetable Production (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leafy Greens) (AFAGAHAA)

Keywords

• Vegetable seed production
• Onion breeding services
• Functional food development
• Agricultural biotechnology
• Seed distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Seed Production and Sales (種苗生産販売): Production and sales of proprietary vegetable seeds, primarily onion varieties developed in-house. Seeds are sold domestically in Japan and internationally to overseas markets.
2. Agricultural Product Distribution (農産物の卸売): Production and distribution of highly functional vegetables, including branded products such as くりやま健康たまねぎ 'Sarasara Red', sold through direct e-commerce and wholesale channels.
3. Commissioned Seed Production (受託採種): Contracted seed production services conducted at the company's Hokkaido facility using rain-sheltered net houses for various vegetable crops.
4. Commissioned Research and Testing (受託試験業務): Joint research with universities, Ministry of Agriculture, NARO, AIST, and food manufacturers. Provides technology consulting and research trial services for companies entering the agricultural sector.
5. Lectures and Public Speaking (講演・講義): Delivers lectures at universities (Hokkaido University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Osaka Prefecture University) and agricultural colleges on breeding, horticulture, technology management, and regional branding. Conducts corporate and civic lectures on primary product-based regional branding and competitive agriculture.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Plant Breeding Institute develops and produces proprietary functional onion varieties through conventional cross-breeding techniques, operating a 40,000 m² research farm with 50 greenhouses in Hokkaido. The company's core offerings include proprietary onion seeds (Sarasara Red, Sarasara Gold, Smile Ball), branded functional vegetables sold through its own e-commerce store, wholesale produce distribution to B2B partners, commissioned seed production services, and contracted research and testing for universities, government agencies, and food manufacturers.

Product overview

Plant Breeding Institute operates as an agricultural technology company centered on onion breeding as its core competency. The company develops functional onion varieties (Sarasara Red, Sarasara Gold, Smile Ball) through cross-breeding techniques, and conducts seedling production, agricultural product wholesale, and contract testing services. The product portfolio includes three branded onion varieties with distinct health and sensory characteristics, supported by research facilities including a 40,000㎡ breeding station and 50 greenhouse units in Hokkaido.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• さらさらレッド (Sarasara Red): 健康成分の「ケルセチン」を非常に多く含むオリジナル品種。甘味と辛味が強く、味の濃い本格的なタマネギ。
• さらさらゴールド (Sarasara Gold)
• スマイルボール (Smile Ball)
• くりやま健康たまねぎ (Kuriyama Healthy Onion)

Products and services

• Sarasara Red (さらさらレッド) Functional Onion Original proprietary onion variety bred by Plant Breeding Institute at the Hokkaido research farm, characterized by exceptionally high quercetin (a health-benefiting compound) content, strong sweetness and spiciness, marketed as a functional food ingredient for health-conscious consumers and farmers producing differentiated high-value crops.
• Sarasara Gold (さらさらゴールド) Functional Onion Original proprietary golden onion variety developed by Plant Breeding Institute through cross-breeding, designed to provide enhanced functional health properties alongside culinary appeal.
• Smile Ball (スマイルボール) Tear-Free Onion Tear-free and non-pungent onion variety co-developed by Plant Breeding Institute with House Foods Group, designed to address consumer desire for onions that do not cause tears or strong irritation during cutting and consumption.
• Proprietary Onion Seed Production and Sales (種苗生産販売) Production and sale of proprietary vegetable seeds, primarily proprietary onion varieties developed in-house, sold domestically in Japan and exported internationally to overseas buyers and farmers.
• Commissioned Seed Production (受託採種) Contracted seed production services conducted at the company's Hokkaido facility using rain-sheltered net houses for various vegetable crops on behalf of client companies.
• Commissioned Research and Testing (受託試験業務) Contracted research and testing services including joint research with universities, the Ministry of Agriculture, NARO, AIST, and food manufacturers, and technology consulting for companies entering the agricultural sector.
• Lectures and Public Speaking (講演・講義) Lectures delivered at universities (Hokkaido University, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Osaka Prefecture University) and agricultural colleges covering breeding, horticulture, technology management, and regional branding, plus corporate and civic lectures on primary-product-based regional branding and competitive agriculture.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• House Foods Group (ハウス食品グループ本社)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-development partnership for the 'Smile Ball' (スマイルボール) onion variety — a non-tear, mild onion. This is a co-branded product developed in collaboration with House Foods Group, targeting consumers who want onions without the pungent tear-inducing properties.
• Sweet Onion Corporation (株式会社スイートオニオン)minorOthersAn affiliated company (関連会社) structured as a farmland-owning legal entity (農地所有適格法人), involved in agricultural production operations supporting the Plant Breeding Institute's seed and vegetable production activities.
• Hokkaido University (北海道大学)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe company is a spin-off venture from Hokkaido University's Department of Agriculture. It maintains ongoing joint research collaborations with the university and serves as a bridge to translate cutting-edge academic research into practical agricultural and breeding applications.
• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (農水省), NARO, AIST (農研機構・産総研)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipates in national research projects as a joint research partner with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sakata Seed Corporation: One of Japan's largest vegetable and flower seed companies, with active onion variety development and global distribution. Directly comparable to PBI's hybrid vegetable breeding and international seed sales business.
• Takii & Co., Ltd. Major Japanese vegetable seed breeder established in the 1800s with strong onion and allium variety offerings. Comparable to PBI's onion breeding focus and B2B seed sales to professional growers.
• Hazera Seeds: Global specialist in onion and allium breeding, marketing proprietary hybrid onion varieties worldwide. Closely comparable to PBI's specialization in conventional cross-breeding for differentiated onion varieties.
• Bejo Zaden: Leading Dutch family-owned vegetable breeding company with strong onion portfolio and conventional breeding expertise. Comparable in business model of proprietary hybrid variety development and global seed sales.
• Enza Zaden: Global vegetable breeding company with extensive onion variety development using classical breeding techniques. Comparable to PBI's conventional breeding pipeline and professional grower customer base.
• Rijk Zwaan: Major Dutch vegetable seed company with active onion breeding programs serving commercial growers globally. Comparable in proprietary hybrid development and international seed distribution.

Broad incumbents

• BASF | Nunhems: BASF's vegetable seed business with extensive onion variety portfolio and R&D investment in functional traits. Broader than PBI but competes in the same onion hybrid seed market.
• Syngenta Vegetable Seeds: Global vegetable seed division with deep onion breeding programs using both conventional and modern techniques. Competes broadly with PBI for onion seed market share.

Others

• House Foods Group: Major Japanese food manufacturer and existing PBI partner (Smile Ball co-development). Compares as both a customer/partner and as an indirect downstream comp — a vertically integrated ingredient-supplying model.

Emerging players

• Earthrise / Truelove Seeds: Specialty heirloom and regional seed producer serving small-scale farmers in niche markets. Shares the small-breeder, mission-driven, conventional-breeding DNA with PBI but operates at much smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plant Breeding Institute