At the award ceremony
(Left: Atsushi Suginaka, Director General for Export and International Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Right: Hiroshi Sakata, Chairman and Representative Director, Sakata Seed Corporation)
Sakata Seed Corporation received the Export and International Bureau Director General's Award for Excellence in Utilizing the Intellectual Property Rights System in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Food Industries (FY2026) at the 2026 Intellectual Property Achievement Awards Ceremony, held on April 17, 2026, at Akasaka Intercity Conference.
This award program recognizes businesses that have successfully enhanced their operations through the strategic protection and effective utilization of intellectual property in the agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and food industries. Following its inaugural presentation last year, this year marked the program’s second edition.
Sakata Seed Corporation is a research-and-development-focused company, dedicated to developing new flower and vegetable varieties. In the course of new variety development, the Company conducts joint exploration and research of certain genetic resources used as breeding materials in cooperation with government agencies and other partners in resource-providing countries. In addition, for varieties that are continuously marketed domestically and internationally, the Company adopts a strategy of deploying them under unified global brand names.
Through this award, the Company was recognized for establishing mutually beneficial partnerships with resource providing countries in accordance with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and developing sustainable international framework for genetic resource utilization. Rather than unilaterally benefiting from these collaborations, the Company has contributed to fair and equitable benefit sharing by providing expertise in the exploration and evaluation of genetic resources. The Company was also commended for implementing a robust system to prevent illegal propagation and counterfeit products. For varieties bred using genetic resources and marketed under a unified global brand, the Company restricts unauthorized use of names and logos through trademark rights, while plant breeder’s rights protect against unauthorized use of the varieties themselves.
Looking ahead, the Company will continue to strategically leverage a combination of intellectual property systems—such as patents, design rights, trademark rights, and plant breeders’ rights—tailored to specific regions and varieties. By employing this “IP mix” approach, the Company aims to further strengthen the protection of its varieties and brands while advancing the development of new varieties through ongoing global exploration of genetic resources.
Award Comment
“We are deeply honored to receive the Export and International Bureau Director General’s Award for Excellence in Utilizing the Intellectual Property Rights System in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Food Industries (FY2026). Throughout the Sakata Group, we have steadily worked to strengthen our intellectual property management framework and to build a foundation supporting our business activities in countries and regions around the world. Going forward, guided by our message that “Vegetables nourish the body and flowers nourish the soul,” we will continue to contribute to the advancement of the horticulture industry and strive to be a seed company trusted by customers and suppliers worldwide, delivering smiles and health across the globe.”
The Company’s Genetic Resource Development Model
The Company conducts joint exploration and evaluation of genetic resources in collaboration with partners in Indonesia and Argentina, thereby building mutually beneficial relationships.
Sakata Seed’s genetic resource development model
Example of the Company’s Genetic Resource Exploration and Evaluation in Indonesia
SunPatiens®, which was developed using genetic resources jointly explored with the Government of Indonesia, is marketed globally under a unified brand name and has earned a strong reputation worldwide. Cumulative global sales have exceeded 700 million plants, and the product marks its 20th anniversary since launch this year.
Joint exploration and evaluation of genetic resources in Indonesia
Intellectual Property Management Framework Across the Sakata Seed Group
In addition to protecting its varieties and brands through an “IP mix” strategy, the Company has established a group-wide intellectual property management framework. This includes the development and distribution of a multilingual intellectual property handbook, the “IP Global Booklet,” designed to standardize policies on confidential information management as well as to consolidate knowledge and perspectives on intellectual property across the entire group.
Cover of the intellectual property booklet “IP Global Booklet” (Japanese edition)