SDS Biotech and Idemitsu to launch joint R&D on agrochemicals

SDS Biotech and its majority shareholder Idemitsu Kosan have started joint research projects to establish a commercial production process for SDS’s newly developed microbial fungicide as well as to create a new type of agrochemical by blending the two companies’ active ingredients.

SDS, a Tokyo-based agrochemicals maker and consolidated subsidiary of Idemitsu Kosan, said its research center in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, is collaborating with Idemitsu’s agri-bio research team for the commercialization of the microbial fungicide (SDS’s development code: SB-9501) by 2014. The fungicide has been undergoing a field test under contract with a third party since last year.

SDS and Idemitsu are also working together to develop a new type of lawn herbicide by blending SDS’s amicarbazone and Idemitsu’s triaziflam, with market launch targeted in 2014, too. A field test, which is also outsourced, has been conducted on prototype since the autumn-winter planting season in 2011.

Under the capital tie-up, the two companies will not only develop new types of agrochemicals but also commercialize new products to be handled by Idemitsu Agri, an Idemitsu’s subsidiary sales company mainly for agrochemicals, collaborate to acquire licenses for production of new agrochemical substances by SDS, and expand their agrochemicals business into Asia and other foreign markets.