Established by integrating three agricultural chemicals and pharmaceutical companies in Japan.

First of all, please tell us about your business.

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L Ishiyama: We are a research and development-oriented company that develops products and services in the field of high-quality agricultural chemicals globally, aiming to become a global company that contributes to society from the perspective of "food safety and reliability" and "improvement of quality of life". The Crop Solutions business is the R&D and manufacture and sale of pesticide-related products such as insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. In addition, since we started the termite ant control business in 1961, we have been developing our business under the slogan "Supporting healthy and secure lives for everyone." Currently, we have offices not only in Japan but also in Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, India, etc., and operate in more than 100 countries around the world.

Main Products (Excerpts)

Tell us about your history.

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L Ishiyama: Our history began when Sankyo Shoten (later Sankyo Co., Ltd.), one of our parent companies, manufactured and sold Japan's first synthetic pesticide chlorpicrin in the Taisho era, and has a history of about 100 years since then. Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. Crop & Life Solutions Co., Ltd. is a new company that was formed two years ago after the merger and consolidation of the agrochemical business divisions of Mitsui Chemicals Inc., Sankyo Co., Ltd. and Meiji Seika Falma Inc.

Please tell us about the research fields in which Mr. Ishiyama and Mr. Yamamoto are involved.

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L Yamamoto: Our research area is primarily "druging pesticides from natural products." Since the Meiji Seika period, Meiji Seika Falma Co., Ltd. has built a library of natural products related to both the pharmaceutical and pesticide sectors. Later, in the pharmaceutical world, drug discovery trends changed, and the movement to search for drug candidates from natural products diminishes, but along with the Sankyo-derived strain, we are still using it for research and development of pesticide creation.

Opened a lab in Shinkiba for new development of pesticides derived from natural products

Please introduce your research and development system.

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L Yamamoto: We have two research institutes: the Institute for Agricultural Chemistry and the Center for Biological Solutions Research (BSRC). In addition, we are conducting research on the industrial manufacturing method of the original material at the Omuta Plant of Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. in Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The Research Institute for Agricultural Chemistry has two research bases in Mobara City, Chiba Prefecture and Nosu City, Shiga Prefecture, and has test centers (test farms) in Inashiki City, Ibaraki Prefecture and Odawara City, Kanagawa Prefecture. The BSRC to which we belong is adjacent to the Research Institute for Agricultural Chemistry in Mobara City, but since it became too small, we opened a lab at Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1 in the fall of last year. This is managed as a satellite lab of BSRC in Mobara City.

Please tell us about the background of the establishment of the satellite lab.

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L Yamamoto: Following the merger, we acquired a library and research technology related to natural products. In addition to conventional synthetic pesticide technology, we established a new BSRC and started research on pesticide creation derived from natural products. However, the research institute in Mobara City was originally a research facility for synthetic pesticides, and there was not enough facilities and space to start a new research, so we decided to build a new satellite lab. As for the division of roles, BSRC in Mobara City will conduct screening of natural products, and the satellite lab will perform the cultivation of microorganisms that produce promising candidates discovered there and the purification and isolation of candidates.

What was the reason for choosing Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1?

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L Yamamoto: First, as a geographical condition, it was ideal to be located in the middle of the head office in Nihonbashi, Tokyo and the research institute in Mobara City. One of the factors was that the location is easy to access to joint research sites for us promoting open innovation. In addition, since genetically modified experiments are conducted in the research, it was also necessary to be a facility where genetically modified experiments can be performed. As a result of repeated studies based on these factors, Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1 was selected as a new base.

After a preparation period of one year, we finally started full-scale pesticide creation research.

It's only been one year since you moved in, but please tell us your impressions so far.

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L Ishiyama: There are plenty of courses on safety management. The other day, a workshop on protective equipment was held, but I think it is very good to be able to use such opportunities. In addition, the staff of the research institute in Mobara City was gathered at the Shinkiba Lab, and a meeting was held for all participants using the large conference room in the Shinkiba Lab. When it comes to a place where everyone gathers, it is not easy to secure enough space, but it is very helpful because the large conference room of Shinkiba Lab can be used.

Is there anything you would like to achieve in the future using Mitsui Link Lab?

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L Ishiyama: It has been only about a year since I moved into Shinkiba Lab, and until now I have been focusing mainly on environmental improvement. Recently, the maintenance has finally been completed, and full-scale experiments have become possible. In the future, I would like to use Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba 1 to expand the scope of research on pesticide creation to realize pesticide creation derived from natural products.

Are you interested in collaboration and collaboration with other companies?

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L Ishiyama: Originally, many of our R&D activities are completed within our company, and so far there are not many cases of collaboration with other companies, but in the future we would like to use information dissemination to other companies in Mitsui Link Lab to see if there is anything we can do together.

Mitsui Link Lab will continue to plan and manage various events in the future, so please use it. Thank you very much for today.