CULTA

CULTA Inc. is a Japanese agricultural technology startup aiming to address global food production challenges posed by climate change. Founded in November 2017 by Shuhei Noaki, who holds a master's degree in Agricultural and Life Sciences from the University of Tokyo, the company is a university-affiliated venture. Noaki's academic research on remote sensing and involvement with other agricultural startups during his studies led to the establishment of CULTA.

The company’s core business revolves around its proprietary "Speed Breeding" technology, which significantly shortens the development cycle for new crop varieties. By integrating AI, genomic data analysis, and controlled growing environments, CULTA can accelerate the traditional plant breeding process from a typical ten-year timeline to approximately two years. This technology is applied to develop new varieties of horticultural crops, such as strawberries and sweet potatoes, that are resilient to environmental stressors like high temperatures and acidic soil.

CULTA operates by developing its own climate-adaptive crop varieties and collaborating with major food companies to enhance the resilience of their key agricultural products. The business model involves supplying these proprietary varieties to farmers and providing support to produce high-quality crops. The company then markets these crops under its own premium brands, such as the "SAKURA DROPS" strawberry brand, aiming to secure higher profitability for partner farmers. Initially focusing on the Japanese market, CULTA has expanded its efforts to Southeast Asia, with a specific project to produce new strawberry varieties in Malaysia.

Keywords: speed breeding, agricultural technology, climate-resilient crops, horticultural genetics, plant breeding, crop variety development, Japanese agritech, sustainable agriculture, AI in agriculture, genomic selection, strawberry breeding, sweet potato varieties, controlled environment agriculture, food production innovation, agricultural branding