Kureha Corporation has announced it has acquired key biopesticide and microbial analysis technologies from a US-based startup, marking a significant expansion of its Life Science business and its push into sustainable crop protection. 

The Tokyo-listed company said the acquisition, completed through its wholly owned subsidiary Kureha America, includes a biopesticide for crop protection and an advanced microbial interaction analysis platform.  

Kureha has already finished a preliminary internal technical evaluation and begun global marketing activities and engagement with agricultural companies. 

The move comes as farmers worldwide face rising pressure from plant diseases and pests that are increasingly difficult to control with conventional agrochemicals, alongside growing demand for environmentally responsible alternatives. Kureha’s newly acquired technology focuses on microorganisms as active ingredients, offering a bio-based solution with differentiated performance. 

Internal evaluations show the biopesticide is effective against a broad spectrum of plant pathogens, including Fusarium diseases such as Panama disease of banana, as well as bacterial diseases and nematodes. The company said the product delivers strong disease control even in cases where chemical pesticides struggle. 

Kureha is also strengthening its research and development capabilities by building an internal platform around the microbial interaction analysis technology that led to the biopesticide’s discovery. By combining this platform with its proprietary core technologies, the company aims to accelerate the development of new, high-value disease control solutions, as per the company. 

Life Science has been positioned as a core growth engine within Kureha’s new business division, with agricultural products playing a strategic role in addressing global challenges such as food security and sustainability.  

By integrating crop protection expertise with bio-based solutions, including the newly acquired biopesticide and bio-stimulants under development, Kureha is targeting meaningful revenue contributions beyond 2030 and a stronger competitive position in global markets.