Winners Announced for the 2nd Intellectual Property Rights System Utilization Excellent Enterprise Awards in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Food Sectors
MAFF announced the winners for excellent IP utilization. Yamagata Prefecture (Tsuyahime), Sakata Seed, and Ehime Prefecture were awarded for their strategic use of breeder's rights and trademarks.
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- 📰 Published: April 10, 2026 at 19:29
- 🔍 Collected: April 11, 2026 at 00:27 (4h 57m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 20, 2026 at 01:59 (217h 32m after Collected)
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has selected Yamagata Prefecture for the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award, and Sakata Seed Corporation (Kanagawa Prefecture) and Ehime Prefecture for the Director-General of the Export and International Affairs Bureau Award in the Intellectual Property Rights System Utilization Excellent Enterprise Awards.
## 1. Overview of the Award System
MAFF has been implementing the 'Intellectual Property Rights System Utilization Excellent Enterprise Awards in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Food Sectors' since FY2025 (Reiwa 7) to honor companies and organizations that have developed their business management through the protection and utilization of intellectual property in these fields. This award is conducted in cooperation with the Japan Patent Office's commendation system, which has been recognizing enterprises contributing to smooth operation and development through effective IP use since 1987.
## 2. Award Winners
[Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award]
* Yamagata Prefecture (Utilizing Breeder's Rights and Trademark Rights)
Yamagata Prefecture's 'Tsuyahime' established itself as a top brand through thorough quality control via an in-prefecture producer certification system. By licensing cultivation outside the prefecture, it improved brand recognition, while simultaneously differentiating the product by restricting the use of its logo mark exclusively to products grown within the prefecture.
[Director-General of the Export and International Affairs Bureau Award]
* Sakata Seed Corporation (Kanagawa Prefecture) (Utilizing Breeder's Rights and Trademark Rights)
Achieved variety development utilizing genetic resources explored and researched jointly with foreign countries, and sold globally through overseas licensing. It is a pioneering initiative that distributes the obtained profits back to the countries of genetic resources, builds a win-win relationship for both parties, acquires further genetic resources, and leads to new variety development.
* Ehime Prefecture (Utilizing Breeder's Rights and Trademark Rights)
Strengthened its brand by collectively referring to its main citrus varieties as the 'Beni Collection' and conducting integrated promotional activities. Furthermore, a project utilizing unexploited citrus varieties* is underway. In the future, the prefecture plans to conclude licensing agreements with US partner companies and use the royalty income for new variety development and production area cultivation.
*Unexploited varieties: Varieties that did not reach the variety registration stage.
## 3. Award Ceremony
Jointly with the Japan Patent Office, the award ceremony will be...
## 1. Overview of the Award System
MAFF has been implementing the 'Intellectual Property Rights System Utilization Excellent Enterprise Awards in the Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, and Food Sectors' since FY2025 (Reiwa 7) to honor companies and organizations that have developed their business management through the protection and utilization of intellectual property in these fields. This award is conducted in cooperation with the Japan Patent Office's commendation system, which has been recognizing enterprises contributing to smooth operation and development through effective IP use since 1987.
## 2. Award Winners
[Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award]
* Yamagata Prefecture (Utilizing Breeder's Rights and Trademark Rights)
Yamagata Prefecture's 'Tsuyahime' established itself as a top brand through thorough quality control via an in-prefecture producer certification system. By licensing cultivation outside the prefecture, it improved brand recognition, while simultaneously differentiating the product by restricting the use of its logo mark exclusively to products grown within the prefecture.
[Director-General of the Export and International Affairs Bureau Award]
* Sakata Seed Corporation (Kanagawa Prefecture) (Utilizing Breeder's Rights and Trademark Rights)
Achieved variety development utilizing genetic resources explored and researched jointly with foreign countries, and sold globally through overseas licensing. It is a pioneering initiative that distributes the obtained profits back to the countries of genetic resources, builds a win-win relationship for both parties, acquires further genetic resources, and leads to new variety development.
* Ehime Prefecture (Utilizing Breeder's Rights and Trademark Rights)
Strengthened its brand by collectively referring to its main citrus varieties as the 'Beni Collection' and conducting integrated promotional activities. Furthermore, a project utilizing unexploited citrus varieties* is underway. In the future, the prefecture plans to conclude licensing agreements with US partner companies and use the royalty income for new variety development and production area cultivation.
*Unexploited varieties: Varieties that did not reach the variety registration stage.
## 3. Award Ceremony
Jointly with the Japan Patent Office, the award ceremony will be...