Japanese seed specialist Sakata Seed Corporation has opened an office in Argentina in a bid to strengthen its presence in the South American market.
With an initial investment of more than US$40m, the Buenos Aires office could be followed in the near future by the opening of a new seed production factory in Argentina, the company said.
The inauguration was attended by the president of the company, Hiroshi Sakata, and Noriteru Fukushima, the Japanese ambassador in Argentina.
Sakata is one of the largest vegetable and flower seed companies in Japan, and the fourth biggest one in the world. The company is a leader in the marketing of broccoli seeds and butternut squash in Argentina, where it has been present for more than 50 years.
“Argentina can produce high-quality vegetables. If we incorporate the important genetic advancements that Sakata has been developing for years, especially now that they are based in the country, I believe there are great growth possibilities,” said Leonardo Sarquis, the Minister of Agribusiness of Buenos Aires, who was at the inauguration.
“In recent years, the number of Japanese companies operating in Argentina has doubled, going from 50 to 100. Sakata is the number 101, so I congratulate and welcome this multinational company to Argentina,” Fukushima said.
“60 per cent of the broccoli and squash we eat here come from Sakata seeds. I am sure the company will continue to grow, creating jobs, sharing technology, and working together, just like Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told President Macri in their meeting at the G20.”
Sakata also owns a facility Bragança Paulista, Brazil, from where it runs its South American operation.
