Shimpei Takeshita

Shimpei Takeshita graduated from Rikkyo University, Faculty of Economics, Department of Business Administration in 2003, where later that year he joined Sanatech Seed Co. Ltd, formerly known as Pioneer Ecoscience Co., Ltd. In 2005, he became product manager of the tomato business in the horticultural seed division of Sanatech Seed. In 2016, he was appointed Director of International Affairs and New Business Division at the company. In 2018, he helped to established Sanatech Life Science and in 2020, he completed all the regulatory compliance work of 1st CRISPR Edited tomato. Most recently in 2022, he was appointed Director-President of Sanatech Life Science and in 2023, was appointed Representative Director-President of Sanatech Seed Co. Ltd and Sanatech Lifer Science Co. Ltd

Abstract Development and sales of genome-edited tomato "Sicilian Rouge Hi-GABA"

Sanatech Seed Co., Ltd. was established with the aim of improving crops using the latest innovative biotechnology and protecting the children and the earth of tomorrow. The word Sana in our company name means health in Latin, and it expresses our desire to make people healthier with our products.

Professor Hiroshi Ezura of the University of Tsukuba's Department of Life and Environmental Sciences/Tsukuba Functional Plant Innovation Research Center developed tomatoes with a high content of GABA, a functional ingredient, using genome editing technology. Sanatech Seed was established ( April 2018) after obtaining a commercial license for the genome editing technology CRISPR CAS9 from Corteva (USA) .

Sanatech Seed provided the parent seeds of Sicilian Rouge to Sanatech Seed, and Sicilian Rouge Hi-GABA was born.

GABA have been developed and are a nutritional functional ingredient that is well known to consumers.

Since its release in 2005, Sicilian Rouge has been a popular variety of cooking tomato that has been well-loved by consumers.

When filing a notification to regulatory authorities on December 11, 2020, the company began accepting and distributing Sicilian Rouge Hi-GABA seedlings to home gardening enthusiasts. In the spring of 2021, the company sent out seedlings to approximately 4,200 home gardeners and provided cultivation guidance for genome-edited crops via the web to more than 1,200 people, which was well received.

In response to requests from consumers, including those involved in the monitoring program, distribution of fruits and vegetables will begin on the “Aozora Tomato Academy” website on September 15, 2020. Delivery of cultivation kits for home gardens will begin in the spring of 2021.

As a pioneering company in the development of genome-edited crops and foods, the company's business scope is not limited to Japan, and it plans to advance the international commercialization of genome-edited crops while proactively engaging with overseas regulatory authorities.