Yazaki Group to expand into agriculture

MANILA, Philippines - Japan’s Yazaki Group, which already has a presence in the Philippine manufacturing sector through electronics firm Yazaki-Torres Corp., is set to expand into the agricultural sector in the country.

According to Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, representatives from Yazaki have met with him and other DA officials over the past couple of months regarding at least two possible business ventures.

The Yazaki Group, Alcala revealed, is offering the Philippines a seed coating technology which would add nutrients to rice and corn seeds, or any other seed variety, making them stronger and ready for planting.

At the same time, Alcala said the Yazaki Group has expressed interest in helping the Philippines build up a viable organic soybean industry so that it can source soybeans from the Philippines.

The Philippines currently has a very small soybean industry and actually imports most of its soybeans. Japan, meanwhile, imports about 95 percent of its soybean requirements.

Thus, Japan is interested in helping the Philippines build up its soybean production to meet its own requirements.

Alcala acknowledged that getting even a 20-percent share of Japan’s soybean requirement would be a big boost to the agricultural sector.

However, said that the Philippines wants to be able to provide not only raw soya beans, but value-added or processed soya products.

Agritecno Yazaki, a subsidiary of Yazaki Corp., had previously expressed interested in helping the country establish a soybean industry. Established in 1996, it is concentrated in different seeding technologies.

Japan is one of the biggest importers of soybean in the world.

In 2005, Japan was among the top three importers, importing about four million tons of soybeans.

The Yazaki Group is exploring a possible collaborative research such as their gel-covered seed technology or tanemaru for soybeans and other crops.

According to Agritecno Yazaki, tanemaru is an entirely new seed form in which a small seed is wrapped in a natural polymer gel full of water making it easier to handle.

Wrapping the seed in the gel draws the best potential from the seed.

The gel cover prevents the early spoilage and drying of seeds.