Created by integrating the three agrochemical divisions of chemical and pharmaceutical companies in Japan

First of all, please let me know about your business.

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L. Ishiyama: We are a research and development company that globally develops high-quality agricultural chemicals products and services with the aim of becoming a global company that contributes to society from the perspective of "food safety and reliability" and "improving quality of life". The Crop Solutions business involves the research, development, manufacture and sale of agrochemical-related products such as insecticides, herbicides, and fungicides. In addition, since the start of the termite control business in 1961, the Life Solutions Business has been developing its business under the slogan "Support for a healthy and secure life for everyone." Currently, we have offices not only in Japan but also in Southeast Asia, Europe, South America, and India, and are operating in more than 100 countries around the world.

Major Products (Excerpts)

Could you tell us about your history?

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L. Ishiyama: Our history began when one of our mothers, Sankyo Shoten (later Sankyo Co., Ltd.), manufactured and sold Japan's first synthetic pesticide chlorpicrin in the Taisho era, and has a history of about 100 years thereafter. I am. Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. is a new company established two years ago after the merger and consolidation of the agrochemical business divisions of Mitsui Chemicals Inc., Sankyo Co., Ltd., and Meiji Seika Pharma Corporation.

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 mainly "developing pesticides from natural products." Originally, Meiji Seika Pharma Co., Ltd. has built a natural product library related to both the pharmaceutical and agrochemical sectors since the Meiji Seika era. In the pharmaceutical world, drug discovery trends will change, and the movement to search for drug candidates from natural products will shrink. However, we will take over the library and use it in research and development of pesticides in conjunction with Sankyo-derived strain.

Opened a laboratory in Shinkiba to develop new agricultural chemicals derived from natural products.

Please introduce your research and development system.

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L. Yamamoto: We have two laboratories, the National Institute of Agricultural Chemistry and the Biological Solutions Research Center (BSRC). In addition, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.'s Omuta Plant in Omuta City, Fukuoka Prefecture, is conducting research on the industrial manufacturing method of the original material. The Research Institute for Agricultural Chemicals has two research bases in Mobara City, Chiba Prefecture and Yasu 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 Institute of Agricultural Chemistry in Mobara City, but due to the lack of space, we opened a laboratory 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: As a result of the merger, we acquired a library and research technology related to natural products, and in addition to conventional synthetic agrochemical technology, we established a new BSRC and started research on the creation of natural products derived from pesticides. However, the research institute in Mobara City was originally a research facility for synthetic pesticides, and there was not enough equipment and space to start a new research, so we decided to create a new satellite lab. As for the division of roles, BSRC in Mobara City will conduct screening of natural products, cultivate microorganisms that produce promising candidates found there, and refine and monopoize candidates at the satellite lab.

Why did you choose Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba1?

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L. Yamamoto: First, as a geographical condition, it was ideal to be located between the head office in Nihonbashi, Tokyo and the research institute in Mobara City. One of the factors was that it was easy to access to joint research partners for the promotion of open innovation. In addition, since genetic recombination experiments are conducted in the research, it was necessary to be a facility capable of genetic recombination experiments. Based on these considerations, Mitsui Link Lab Shinkiba1 was selected as a new base.

After a year of preparation, full-scale research on pesticide creation is finally started.

It's been a 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 seminar on protective equipment was held, but I think it would be very good to be able to take advantage of such opportunities. In addition, the staff of the research institute in Mobara City was gathered at Shinkiba Lab, and a conference was held in which all members participated using the large conference room in Shinkiba Lab. When it comes to a place where everyone gathers, there is not much space to secure enough space, but it is very helpful because the large conference room of Shinkiba Lab is available.

Do you have anything you want to achieve in the future using Mitsui Link Lab?

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L. Ishiyama: It has been about a year since I moved into Shinkiba Lab, so until now I have been mainly focusing 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 Shinkiba1 to expand the scope of research on pesticide creation and realize pesticide creation derived from natural products.

Are you interested in collaborating and collaborating with other companies?

Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. C&L. Ishiyama: Since many of our research and development are completed within our company, we have not seen many cases of collaboration with other companies so far, but in the future we would like to use information dissemination to other companies in Mitsui Link Lab to find out what we can do together.

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