Won two awards in the student business plan contest!

Won two awards in the student business plan contest!
- Aiming to realize sustainable agriculture through the power of microorganisms -

United Graduate School of Agricultural Science
Shinichiro Yasukake, 3rd year

Mr. Shinichiro Yasukake of (completed in March 2022) won the "Excellence Award" and "Oisix-La Daichi Award" for his business plan "Production and sales of Japan's first bio-fertilizer kit suitable for direct rice cultivation" in the "JUMP ~JA x University "MIRAI" Pitch-Contest~ (hereinafter "Pitch Contest*") organized by AgVenture Lab, a general incorporated association. Mr. Shinichiro Yasukake of United Graduate School of Agricultural Science Department of Biological Production Science (Completed in March 2022. He is currently a student at the University Institute of Agriculture Assistant Professor). We asked him about the background of his participation in the contest and his efforts and research to promote the use of biofertilizers for reduced fertilizer use and organic farming without chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

※JUMP ~JA×University “MIRAI” Pitch-Contest~
A nationwide business plan contest aimed at supporting student teams who have already started or are aiming to start businesses to solve social issues.

What is biofertilizer?

There are many different types of bacteria in soil, some of which have the power to promote plant growth. Such bacteria are extracted and used as agricultural materials in the form of "biofertilizers."

Currently, in the agricultural field, chemical fertilizers that contain the three major elements necessary for plants (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) are mainly used to promote crop growth. However, excessive use of chemical fertilizers leads to environmental pollution and resource depletion, so there is a desire to switch from conventional cultivation using chemical fertilizers to reduced fertilizer cultivation that reduces the use of chemical fertilizers and organic cultivation that does not use chemical fertilizers or pesticides. However, organic cultivation has the disadvantage that crop productivity is nearly 20 to 30 percent lower than conventional cultivation, which is an obstacle to the spread of organic cultivation.

In this context, biofertilizers are attracting attention as a potential solution to the problems of conventional farming.
The biofertilizer developed in my laboratory is made from rice grown in the fields of TUAT. Bacillus pumilus It uses a bacterium called "TUAT1 strain" and is sold under the name "Yume Bio." It has the effect of promoting the growth of crop roots, and when combined with conventional cultivation, it can increase rice yields by 10-30%. In addition, by using "Yume Bio," it is possible to obtain the same yield as conventional cultivation while reducing the use of chemical fertilizers by 30%.

What made you decide to participate in the pitch contest?

I participated in the contest hoping that it would be an opportunity to let many people know about the research I am working on. As it was my first time participating in a pitch contest, I also had hopes of cultivating the ability to create a business model and an eye for the market.

Compared to the rest of the world, the percentage of organic farming in Japan and the growth rate of the biofertilizer industry are low, and I feel a sense of crisis that Japan will be left behind if things continue as they are. I wanted to liven up the entire organic farming industry by introducing the issues facing conventional agriculture and the biofertilizer research that is being undertaken to solve them.

I was surprised because I never thought I would receive an award, but I am very happy to have been selected for two awards.

Please tell us about the entrepreneurial business plan you presented at the pitch contest.

The business plan is to sell biofertilizers that can be used for direct seeding of rice. Until now, the majority of rice cultivation methods have been transplanting rice seedlings, but with the recent decline in the birthrate and aging population, there has been a shift to direct seeding, where seeds are sown directly in paddy fields. However, as no biofertilizers suitable for direct seeding are currently available on the market, we aim to develop a biofertilizer kit that can be easily applied to seeds.

Please tell us about your research.

Since the functions of the plant growth-promoting microorganisms used in biofertilizers are still largely unknown, in order to popularize biofertilizers, I am conducting research to clarify the mechanism by which plants and microorganisms interact to promote plant growth. In my doctoral studies, I investigated the effect on plants of a substance that bacteria only produce when in a dormant state called a "sporocyte."

I encountered the plant I am researching at the University of Missouri-Columbia in the United States, where I studied abroad in my first year of doctoral studies. It is called "Setaria" in English, an unfamiliar name, so I thought it was a plant I didn't know, but when I saw it growing, I realized it was actually foxtail grass (Setaria viridis). It is a plant you often see on roadsides, but it is also used in research as a model for plants with high photosynthetic capacity.
Due to the impact of COVID-19, I was forced to return to Japan after just four months of my planned one-year study abroad, and was unable to fully carry out the research I had originally planned. However, after returning to Japan, I continued my research on cattails.

Why did you choose this research topic?

I have always been interested in environmental issues and majored in chemistry at Ibaraki National College of Technology (Ibaraki National College of Technology) for seven years. At Ibaraki National College of Technology, I earned a Bachelor of Engineering degree. I was shocked to hear on the radio that agriculture is one of the causes of environmental problems, and I wanted to solve environmental problems in agriculture.
So I studied agriculture from scratch and enrolled in the graduate school Graduate School of Agriculture of TUAT.
My research theme at the technical college was in the field of synthesizing model compounds of microbial enzymes, so I was attracted by the potential of microorganisms and chose biofertilizer research, which allows "using microorganisms" and "solving environmental problems in agriculture".

What is rewarding and interesting about your research?

Agricultural science is attractive because the issues faced in production sites are directly linked to the foundations of our lives, and the results of our research can easily be applied back to the field.
During my master's degree, I was involved in a project to restart farming in Fukushima, and I felt that not only environmental issues, but also negative rumors and an aging population with a declining birthrate were major issues for agriculture. However, seeing farmers working hard every day to solve these problems made me want to become a researcher who could support them.
I feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in the fact that I am conducting research in the field of agriculture, and this in itself is directly linked to what makes it interesting.

As one of the means to popularize biofertilizer, we are also trying crowdfunding to inform farmers of the latest research results on the effectiveness of biofertilizer and to raise their understanding of the environmental impact of conventional farming.
When I meet farmers, I realize that they are very particular about the materials they use to grow their crops. I believe that because farmers deal with nature, they choose scientifically-backed biofertilizers.
Under current Japanese law, a fertilizer cannot be called a "fertilizer" unless it contains chemical nutrients such as the three major elements (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), and the legal framework is not yet ready for the widespread use of biofertilizers. Currently, biofertilizers are popular in Southeast Asia, where chemical fertilizers are difficult to obtain, but we are working on this with the hope that in the future Japan will be known as a "biofertilizer advanced country."

Can you tell me what I should have done as a student?

This is purely advice based on my own experience, but I think it was a good idea to get involved in various communities, such as part-time jobs, volunteering, and external study groups.
When you are surrounded by people with similar academic abilities and ways of thinking, such as in a laboratory or on campus, you tend to become rigid in your thinking and lose sight of what is going on around you. I have been like that before, and it is said that researchers are prone to this trap.
So when I go to a community that is not bound by academic ability or background, I realize how small I and my research are. However, I think that by expanding them, I can finally say with pride that my research is "recognized by society." For me, the desire to establish this "research recognized by society" is what motivates me to work to make my research known to many people.
I still have a long way to go, but I hope to work with you all to eliminate the gap between society and academia.

Do you plan to start your own business in the future?

I don't have any plans to start a business anytime soon, but I would like to start by advising the next generation of researchers in academia while continuing my research into biofertilizers.
Currently, I am continuing my research in the laboratory of Professor Naoko Otsu (Plant Nutrition Laboratory) of the Department Department of Biological Production, Faculty of Faculty of Agriculture, as Assistant Professor at Institute of Global Innovation Research, TUAT Technology. Since April, I have been participating in a project to restart farming in Fukushima again, so I think I will have more opportunities to visit Fukushima until around October when the rice is harvested.
Also, even though I was given the opportunity to study abroad, I regret not being able to conduct sufficient research due to the effects of COVID-19, so I am planning to study abroad in the United States again.

Please give a message to your juniors.

I feel that there are two types of people who do research: those who do it because it is interesting, and those who do it because they want to solve problems in the world. The former are people who have received prestigious awards such as the Nobel Prize, and I think they have the qualities to be passionate and engrossed in their research. I am the latter, and when I see the former, I think "I can't compete with them," but I approach my research with my own convictions. I hope that you too will find your own rewarding and interesting research. I'm sure it will be different for every person.

Another good thing about TUAT is that the connections within the university are strong, and I can consult with professors outside of my research lab. I think the environment where I can collaborate not only with professors in Faculty of Agriculture, but also with professors in the Faculty of Faculty of Engineering is very valuable.
I used to practice kendo, and in kendo there is a practice called "de-keiko" (training at a dojo other than the one I belong to), where I can receive training. I feel that through this training at a dojo, I was able to gain experience in actively making connections and exploring what I can do.
If there is something you would like to try, please take the initiative and take action. You may find a professor who will accept you, regardless of your faculty or department.

(Published on May 23, 2022)