Sanwa Bussan Joins 'Save the Sweet Potato' Consortium to Support Sweet Potato Production Areas

welzo Inc. (Headquarters: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture; President: Yoshifumi Kanao), which operates the 'Save the Sweet Potato' (SSP) platform aimed at expanding and developing the sweet potato economic zone, announced that Sanwa Bussan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kanoya City, Kagoshima Prefecture; Managing Director: Akira Wada) has joined the platform.

Sanwa Bussan is a core seed company in the Osumi region of Kagoshima, with approximately 70 years of experience in sweet potato starch production and bio-seedling cultivation, supplying about 3 million seedlings annually. Their participation in SSP will further strengthen the sweet potato economic zone, connecting production, processing, distribution, and technology.

About Sanwa Bussan Co., Ltd.
Sanwa Bussan is the core company of the Sanwa Bussan Group, which operates diverse businesses including sweet potato starch production, bio-seedling cultivation, landscaping, agriculture, and energy in Kanoya City, Kagoshima Prefecture. Sweet potato starch is a fundamental raw material for the food industry, used in soft drinks and food additives, and is produced exclusively in Kagoshima within Japan.

Fighting Sweet Potato Rot Disease to Protect the Region
Sweet potato rot disease, confirmed on the Kyushu mainland in 2018, reached its peak in 2020. Sanwa Bussan suffered severe damage, with raw material yields dropping by about 30% and seedling production falling by more than half. In response to this crisis, Sanwa Bussan collaborated with two other private companies to conduct verification tests on steam disinfection technology at the seed tuber stage. This has now become a widely adopted manual for steam disinfection across the production area.

Background of SSP Membership and Future Collaboration
SSP, led by welzo, is a platform connecting producers, seed companies, processors, research institutions, and startups to expand and revitalize the sweet potato-based economy. Sanwa Bussan decided to join after showing strong interest in the consortium's activities, such as information sharing, research on pest control methods, and new variety development, aiming to compensate for the lack of regional outreach capabilities.