Microbial Fermentation Production of Rare Plant-Derived Compounds through Synthetic Biology
Plant-derived secondary metabolites exhibit a wide range of biological activities; however, their natural abundance in plant tissues is generally low, and many have not yet been commercialized. We aim to establish a platform for the efficient production of these rare plant-derived compounds using microbial fermentation technologies. Cost-effective production through microorganisms is expected to expand the […]
An Efficient Peptide Production Method Based on Amino Group Detection Technology
Peptides are promising candidates as next-generation materials. With this in mind, we conducted research aimed at improving reaction efficiency and reducing production costs. First, scale-up was performed using a reversible amino group detection technology. We confirmed that production was feasible at approximately ten times the laboratory scale, even with the amount of reagents reduced to […]
Commercialization of Terephthalic Acid and Polyester Production Technologies from Unused Biomass Resources for the Revitalization of Agriculture and Forestry
Terephthalic acid, which is currently produced from fossil resources through chemical processes and widely used as a raw material for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and related products, is targeted for production via biological processes using unused biomass resources generated in rural areas. The social implementation of this technology is expected to promote the effective utilization of […]
Establishment of a High Value-Added Land-Based Aquaculture System Utilizing Water Purification Technology with Microalgae
Using the water purification method employing microalgae developed as an outcome of Phase 1, this project aims to develop an environmentally low-impact land-based aquaculture system with low running costs. The research activities include: (1) the construction of a high-performance water quality maintenance system, (2) the development of a cloud-based monitoring system, and (3) the establishment […]
Commercialization of a Next-Generation Antibody Development Platform Enabled by Underutilized Shark Resources and Land-Based Rearing Technologies
VNAR antibodies, the smallest antibodies derived from sharks, represent a next-generation antibody modality characterized by high engineering flexibility and plasticity, as well as low-cost production. By utilizing small sharks from underutilized marine resources, we aim to generate high-value VNAR antibodies. We plan to establish a startup company that provides the “Fukabody Platform”. With support from […]
Development of a Diffusion-Driven Microalgae Reactor Utilizing Biogas Digestate Liquid Fertilizer Derived from Cattle Manure
To address the treatment needs of cattle manure–derived biogas digestate liquid fertilizer, which is generated in excess and poses potential environmental risks, we developed a reactor that aims to both treat the digestate and cultivate microalgae using nutrients such as nitrogen contained in the digestate. The reactor enables simultaneous microalgae cultivation while extracting nutrients from […]
Development of a Next-Generation Agricultural Production Technology: the “Plant Drug Delivery System”
Development of a Nanoparticle Agent Database We will identify and develop optimal nanoparticle agents that function effectively by crop species and by plant tissue, and compile them into a comprehensive database. Development of Novel Agricultural Inputs Based on the Database (Nano-Designed Materials) Based on this database, we will develop new agricultural inputs incorporating nanoparticle agents […]
Research on Methods for the Discovery and Evaluation of Biostimulant Candidate Compounds
Biostimulants (BS) are defined as a broad range of substances, microorganisms, or their mixtures that, when applied to the plant growing environment, promote favorable physiological conditions in plants. In recent years, they have attracted increasing attention as sustainable agricultural inputs. However, the discovery and evaluation of biostimulant candidate compounds have been constrained by the lack […]
Direct Protein Delivery of Domestically Developed Genome Editing Tools into Plants
Genome editing enables crop improvement in a much shorter time frame than conventional breeding methods. However, for industrial use of genome‑edited crops, it is generally necessary to remove introduced genome‑editing genes through crossing or similar processes, which is often technically difficult and time‑consuming. To accelerate industrial deployment, this research aims to establish a technology that […]
Development of a Functional Protein Synthesis System Derived from Rice Bran
Cell-based foods, such as cultured meat, have attracted significant attention for their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the high cost of functional proteins required for their production remains a major bottleneck to industrialization. In this proof-of-concept study, we aimed to enable low-cost production of functional proteins in vertical farming systems by genetically modifying […]
