Kukulcan Launches Crowdfunding on READYFOR to Expand 'Purélution', Turning Farm Food Waste into Ethical Purees Nationwide
Kukulcan Inc. has launched a crowdfunding campaign on READYFOR with an 8 million yen target to expand its 'Purélution' project, which upcycles imperfect agricultural products into ethical purees. Combining Harvest Forecasting AI with local partnerships, the project aims to fundamentally solve 'pre-shipment farm food loss,' estimated at 6 million tons annually, starting with a proven model using Saga Prefecture strawberries.
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- 📰 Published: May 20, 2026 at 01:00
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Kukulcan Inc. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo, CEO: Lina Hong) has launched a crowdfunding campaign on the service 'READYFOR' starting May 18, 2026. The campaign supports the nationwide expansion of 'Purélution', a project that processes imperfect and surplus agricultural products into purees, transforming them into new regional value.
Delivering Ethical Purees that Save Farms to All of Japan
The project aims to expand its 'circular model that turns farm food waste into value', which has been demonstrated starting with strawberries in Saga Prefecture, to regions across Japan. The funding goal is 8 million yen. The collected funds will be utilized for preparations to introduce processing equipment, OEM processing costs, frozen storage and logistics costs, maintaining sanitary environments, and building operational structures in local areas.
The Problem of 'Invisible Waste' Happening on Farms
Strawberries Discarded Because They 'Cannot Be Sold'
In our unstable modern world, 'food' is being lost far too easily. Despite this, a massive amount of agricultural produce in Japan is discarded simply because it 'cannot be sold'.
In addition to the publicly announced food waste of approximately 2 million tons in Japan, our company's proprietary estimates suggest that pre-shipment 'farm food loss'—which cannot be fully grasped by existing statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and others—could potentially reach 6 million tons annually.
At agricultural production sites, crops that are perfectly edible lose their destination before shipment due to reasons such as their shape and size not meeting standards, harvest timing not aligning with demand, or difficulties in maintaining freshness.
This is not due to a lack of effort by farmers. It is a structural issue born from overlapping factors including climate, distribution, standards, and the timing of consumption.
We at Kukulcan Inc. have launched the 'Purélution' project, combining our proprietary technology with local collaboration, to confront this 'invisible waste' happening on farms and create a system to turn it into value right beside the farmers.
Turning Invisible Waste into Visible Value.
Purélution
Purélution — A Cycle Created by Double Technology
Purélution is a coined word combining 'Purée' and 'Solution'.
It is a project that processes imperfect and surplus agricultural products into 100% additive-free purees while preserving their aroma and taste, delivering them to consumers in various forms such as for restaurants, gifts, sweets, cooking, and regional specialty products.
Its distinct feature goes beyond merely 'processing crops meant for disposal'.
Through a Harvest Forecasting AI currently being developed by Kukulcan Inc., the system aims to pre-emptively grasp harvest peaks and potential surpluses, connecting them to processing and sales. Rather than dealing with waste after it occurs, it aims for a distribution design that does not assume waste will happen.
The Strawberry Purélution
The Challenge That Began with Saga Strawberries
Purélution has been repeatedly tested starting with strawberries from Saga Prefecture.
To date, we have rolled out initiatives to collect strawberries that were scheduled for disposal, processing and selling them as puree. Through introductions at the Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai and the 'Asakusa Ichigo-san Festival' held in collaboration with restaurants in the Asakusa area, we have created opportunities for people to enjoyably and deliciously learn about food loss on farms.
Morikazu Kinjo visited strawberry farmers in Saga Prefecture and accepted strawberries that could not find a shipping destination as raw materials for puree.
At the 'Asakusa Ichigo-san Festival', approximately 30 stores in the Asakusa area participated, offering limited menus using the puree. It became an initiative to deliver the stories behind the agricultural products through city walking and food experiences.
What We Want to Achieve with This Crowdfunding
With this crowdfunding, we aim to refine the initiatives advanced in Saga and establish it as the 'Purélution Model' that can be expanded to various regions across Japan.
Specifically, the funds will be utilized for the following initiatives:
- Preparations for introducing processing equipment
- Initial operations in collaboration with existing processing businesses
- OEM processing
- Frozen storage and logistics
- Maintaining sanitary environments
- Building operational structures in local areas
- Creating collaborative structures with local governments, farmers, and businesses
We plan to install our first processing facility near farmlands in Saga Prefecture by the end of July 2026. We will proceed to build sales channels while reducing the burden of waste on farmers.
Through this project, we will continue to build a system that circulates agricultural products not as 'things that can only be discarded' but as 'resources that can be converted into new regional value'.
Comment from Crowdfunding Promoter
Tomomi Iizuka, Kukulcan Inc. at a farm in Nagano Prefecture
What caught my interest in Kukulcan's initiatives...
Delivering Ethical Purees that Save Farms to All of Japan
The project aims to expand its 'circular model that turns farm food waste into value', which has been demonstrated starting with strawberries in Saga Prefecture, to regions across Japan. The funding goal is 8 million yen. The collected funds will be utilized for preparations to introduce processing equipment, OEM processing costs, frozen storage and logistics costs, maintaining sanitary environments, and building operational structures in local areas.
The Problem of 'Invisible Waste' Happening on Farms
Strawberries Discarded Because They 'Cannot Be Sold'
In our unstable modern world, 'food' is being lost far too easily. Despite this, a massive amount of agricultural produce in Japan is discarded simply because it 'cannot be sold'.
In addition to the publicly announced food waste of approximately 2 million tons in Japan, our company's proprietary estimates suggest that pre-shipment 'farm food loss'—which cannot be fully grasped by existing statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and others—could potentially reach 6 million tons annually.
At agricultural production sites, crops that are perfectly edible lose their destination before shipment due to reasons such as their shape and size not meeting standards, harvest timing not aligning with demand, or difficulties in maintaining freshness.
This is not due to a lack of effort by farmers. It is a structural issue born from overlapping factors including climate, distribution, standards, and the timing of consumption.
We at Kukulcan Inc. have launched the 'Purélution' project, combining our proprietary technology with local collaboration, to confront this 'invisible waste' happening on farms and create a system to turn it into value right beside the farmers.
Turning Invisible Waste into Visible Value.
Purélution
Purélution — A Cycle Created by Double Technology
Purélution is a coined word combining 'Purée' and 'Solution'.
It is a project that processes imperfect and surplus agricultural products into 100% additive-free purees while preserving their aroma and taste, delivering them to consumers in various forms such as for restaurants, gifts, sweets, cooking, and regional specialty products.
Its distinct feature goes beyond merely 'processing crops meant for disposal'.
Through a Harvest Forecasting AI currently being developed by Kukulcan Inc., the system aims to pre-emptively grasp harvest peaks and potential surpluses, connecting them to processing and sales. Rather than dealing with waste after it occurs, it aims for a distribution design that does not assume waste will happen.
The Strawberry Purélution
The Challenge That Began with Saga Strawberries
Purélution has been repeatedly tested starting with strawberries from Saga Prefecture.
To date, we have rolled out initiatives to collect strawberries that were scheduled for disposal, processing and selling them as puree. Through introductions at the Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai and the 'Asakusa Ichigo-san Festival' held in collaboration with restaurants in the Asakusa area, we have created opportunities for people to enjoyably and deliciously learn about food loss on farms.
Morikazu Kinjo visited strawberry farmers in Saga Prefecture and accepted strawberries that could not find a shipping destination as raw materials for puree.
At the 'Asakusa Ichigo-san Festival', approximately 30 stores in the Asakusa area participated, offering limited menus using the puree. It became an initiative to deliver the stories behind the agricultural products through city walking and food experiences.
What We Want to Achieve with This Crowdfunding
With this crowdfunding, we aim to refine the initiatives advanced in Saga and establish it as the 'Purélution Model' that can be expanded to various regions across Japan.
Specifically, the funds will be utilized for the following initiatives:
- Preparations for introducing processing equipment
- Initial operations in collaboration with existing processing businesses
- OEM processing
- Frozen storage and logistics
- Maintaining sanitary environments
- Building operational structures in local areas
- Creating collaborative structures with local governments, farmers, and businesses
We plan to install our first processing facility near farmlands in Saga Prefecture by the end of July 2026. We will proceed to build sales channels while reducing the burden of waste on farmers.
Through this project, we will continue to build a system that circulates agricultural products not as 'things that can only be discarded' but as 'resources that can be converted into new regional value'.
Comment from Crowdfunding Promoter
Tomomi Iizuka, Kukulcan Inc. at a farm in Nagano Prefecture
What caught my interest in Kukulcan's initiatives...
FAQ
What is Purélution?
A project by Kukulcan that processes imperfect and surplus agricultural products into 100% additive-free purees, delivering new value to consumers.
What technology is used in the project?
It utilizes an in-development 'Harvest Forecasting AI' to predict harvest peaks and surpluses in advance, creating a distribution model that prevents waste.
What is the goal of the crowdfunding campaign?
To raise 8 million yen to establish the 'Purélution model' for nationwide expansion, funding facility installation, processing, and logistics starting in Saga Prefecture.