Global Brain has invested in Ac-Planta Inc. (Ac-Planta), a startup that develops biostimulants to increase the drought and high temperature tolerance of plants, through its Norinchukin Innovation Fund L.P. (NCIF) as a lead investor.
Ac-Planta is an Agri-Bio startup that develops biostimulants to protect plants from various environmental stresses, with the mission of “Greenfulness – Living with Climate Change.” Through the development of biostimulants and research and development in the field of plants, Ac-Planta aims to solve food problems such as damage to plant resource production, hunger and malnutrition caused by extreme weather conditions, which is a global issue. Currently, Ac-Planta is developing the Skeepon series of biostimulants based on the mechanism that acetic acid increases the drought tolerance of plants, which was discovered by founder Dr. Kim through his research on environmental stress and epigenetics* in plants when he was a researcher at the RIKEN Institute of Physical and Chemical Research. Ac-Planta sells Skeepon, which, when administered to plants, increases the plants' own tolerance to drought and high temperatures, enabling them to sustain growth in harsh environments and reducing plant losses. Skeepon was launched in Japan in 2019 and to date, more than 10,000 liters have been sold, mainly to farmers and golf courses across Japan. With this funding, Ac-Planta aims to develop products overseas and to build a global team with a view to further accelerating overseas expansion.
*Biostimulants: a group of materials that have a positive effect on plants in terms of stress tolerance, yield and quality, post-harvest condition and storage by utilizing the natural forces inherent in plants and their surrounding environment.
**Epigenetics: the systems that regulate and transmit gene expression independent of changes in DNA sequence and the academic field of epigenetics.
Global Brain has decided to invest in Ac-Planta, thinking highly of its attractive products, advanced technological capabilities, and its strong passion for solving food problems caused by extreme weather conditions. Through this investment, Global Brain will proactively leverage its resources to support Ac-Planta’s further growth both in Japan and overseas.
About Ac-Planta
- Location
- Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Representative
- Jong-Myong Kim
- Founded
- February 2018
About NCIF
- Name
- Norinchukin Innovation Fund L.P.
- General Partner
- Global Brain Corporation
About Global Brain
- Location
- Tokyo, Japan
- Representative
- Yasuhiko Yurimoto
- Founded
- January 1998