This article is an English translation of a Foovo article, published with permission from Foovo.

The Ministry of Agriculture has announced grants for nine food tech companies. This follows the results of the second round of applications for the Ministry’s Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Innovation Promotion Program.

This initiative provides grants to support large-scale technology demonstration projects, with the goal of accelerating the social implementation of advanced technologies held by startups.

The program encompasses nine focus areas, including alternative meat, upcycling, mycoprotein, cooking robots, complete nutrition foods, smart agriculture, and genome editing, resulting in the selection of 13 projects.

This article introduces the nine selected companies (listed in order of grant amount).

TechMagic (Approximately 2.412 billion yen)

Source: TechMagic

TechMagic, a developer of cooking robots aimed at addressing challenges in the food industry, has produced various automated systems, including W-Robo for sorting dishes, M-Robo for precisely plating prepared foods, P-Robo, used in locations such as Tokyo Station’s Marunouchi Building, and I-Robo2, which automates stir-frying. In July, TechMagic established the “Next-Generation Food Factory Consortium” with five major partners: Kagome, Kewpie, Nichirei Foods, Nagatanien, and Nisshin Seifun Group.

Base Food (Approximately 1.87 billion yen)

Source: Base Food

Founded in 2016, Base Food developed “BASE FOOD,” offering a full range of necessary nutrients in a single meal to support a healthy lifestyle. Their product lineup includes “BASE BREAD” with flavors such as red bean paste and curry bread, as well as “BASE PASTA,” “BASE COOKIES,” and pancake mixes, all available through online sales and convenience stores. Base Food was selected under the theme of “demonstrating new manufacturing technologies to generate demand for grains.”

Tokuiten (Approximately 1.17 billion yen)

Source: Tokuiten

Tokuiten has developed “Titan,” a robot that autonomously harvests tomatoes. By running tests on improvements directly in their own farm in Aichi Prefecture, they efficiently address development challenges. The robot recognizes tomatoes using AI, and its arm twists to harvest them. The robot can also be fitted with scissor-like attachments to trim excess leaves, and Tokuiten is also developing robots that perform heavy-duty tasks, such as liquid fertilizer application.

Agro Ludens (Approximately 1.066 billion yen)

Source: Otafuku Holdings

Agro Ludens, collaborating with four companies, including Otafukujozo, focuses on commercializing mycoprotein made by solid-state fermentation of koji combined with rice-extracted protein. The grant will support the commercialization of functional mycoprotein using rice and koji.

Gra&Green (Approximately 930 million yen)

Source: Gra&Green

A Nagoya University-based startup, Gra&Green uses genome editing to develop new seed varieties. Utilizing precise genome editing techniques that target specific genes, they selectively enhance desirable traits in crops without altering other characteristics. They have applied this technique to over 10 crops, including tomatoes and rice. On October 1, they launched a collaborative industry-academia research program called “Future Crop Lab.”

ASTRA FOOD PLAN (Approximately 904 million yen)

Source: ASTRA FOOD PLAN

Using a unique thermal roasting machine, ASTRA FOOD PLAN upcycles food waste such as lemon peels, cabbage cores, and carrot skins into edible powders, preserving nutritional value while preventing flavor degradation and oxidation. This machine is also applied in the sterilization of mushroom beds, enabling reuse of the growing medium to reduce waste. The current project focuses on developing a new animal feed from apple pomace.

Deats Food Planning (Approximately 675 million yen)

Source: Deats Food Planning

Deats Food Planning developed dietary fiber rich ingredient “Deats,” a next-generation food option made from konjac and soybean by-products such as okara. “Deats” aims to be a new choice beyond just meat or fish substitutes, offering items like plant-based cutlets, fish alternatives, and fish roe alternatives. At a tasting event held in 2023, the company also revealed an eel kabayaki-type product in development.

“Deats” has been served on ANA international business class flights and was featured in a limited-time offering at Kappa Sushi this March.

Fermenstation (Approximately 503 million yen)

Source: Fermenstation

Fermenstation, leveraging unique fermentation technology, transforms unused resources into ethanol and repurposes the residual fermentation solids as animal feed, cosmetic ingredients, and fertilizers to promote a circular society. In July, Fermenstation entered the food and beverage market, and their upcycled alcohol from citrus peels was incorporated into Takara Shuzo’s new product, “Fermented Distilled Sour,” which began nationwide sales on September 10.

Greenace (Approximately 429 million yen)

Source: Greenace

Originating from Tokyo University of Agriculture’s business contest, Greenace developed “Vegemin,” a powder derived from agricultural products that would otherwise go to waste. Concentrated with vegetable nutrients, Vegemin can be easily added to drinks and food products, and is also available in forms such as biscuit bars, dressings, cookies, and bread.