---

Quantum Flowers & Foods (QFF), which develops neutron breeding, raised a total of 300 million yen in funding.

Expanding researches in biological resources including microorganisms, and overseas expansion.

---

 

Quantum Flowers & Foods Co., Ltd. (Head office: Mito City, Ibaraki Prefecture; Representative: Norio Kikuchi; hereinafter “QFF”), a company developing neutron breeding technology, has received funding from EEI No. 5 Innovation & Impact Investment Limited Partnership (managed by Environmental Energy Investment Co., Ltd.) and Mitsubishi UFJ Capital No. 9 Investment Limited Partnership (managed by Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co.), and a private investor. Together with the Food for the Future No.1 Investment Limited Partnership (managed by kemuri ventures, LLC), which was launched in April of this year, we are pleased to announce that we have raised a total of 300 million yen in the Series A round of financing.

QFF has completed a series A round of financing totaling 300 million yen through this third-party allotment of new shares. QFF plans to use the funds to expand its domestic demonstration and service system and to establish accelerator applications and service bases overseas, with the aim of further developing the market for its neutron breeding technology, which is the world first (*1) in terms of commercialization.

 

■ Neutron Breeding Technology

Neutron breeding is a new technology to obtain new strains of biological resources by irradiating plants (seeds, growth points, etc.) and microorganisms with neutron beams, a type of radiation, to induce mutations and screen out useful mutants. Neutron beams have excellent properties for introducing mutations into living organisms, and QFF has patented technology for utilizing these properties. Along with genetic modification and genome editing, QFF is expected to be a development method for more effective use of biological resources in these days when a shift to greener resources is essential due to global warming and other issues.

 

 

■ Patent on Mutagenesis by Neutron Beams

QFF’s neutron breeding technology for plants and microorganisms has been granted patents in Japan and the United States. In Japan, QFF has already been granted a patent for “Neutron irradiation device, mutagenesis method using the device, and method for producing mutagenized mutants contained in a sealed container” (patent 6991629) and a patent for “Neutron irradiation device” (patent 7036479).
In the U.S., “NEUTRON RAY IRRADIATION TARGET APPARATUS, MUTATION INDUCTION METHOD, AND IRRADIATION TARGET MANUFACTURING METHOD” (U.S. Patent No. 11980148, registration date) was granted. (U.S. Patent No. 11980148, registration date: May 14, 2024). A PCT application has also been filed in the EU (under examination).

 

■ Comments from Investors

Mr. Tomohiro Matsushita, Principal, Environment & Energy Investment Co. :

Through the funds we manage, we invest in and support startups that can be expected to create a significant impact on social issues. As climate change progresses on a global scale, we feel that QFF’s technology will be increasingly needed to improve crop varieties at an overwhelmingly faster pace than ever before. As someone who handled microorganisms as a student, I am convinced that QFF is a technology that should be noted not only for crops, but also for inducing mutations in microorganisms, as it is a superior method that can create a variety of strains in a shorter time than standard methods.
I am looking forward to supporting the expansion of the company’s business, including overseas, and the creation of social impact by utilizing our company’s network, while I am personally looking forward to the discovery of new mysteries of life and the impact on the knowledge of humankind.

Mr. Tetsuya Hatanaka, Deputy General Manager, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co. :

I believe that QFF, with its globally competitive technology, is a startup with high expectations in a wide range of areas, including its activities not only in food security but also in areas that contribute to solving social issues arising from climate change. We hope to contribute to QFF’s business development by leveraging our strengths as a member of MUFG, so that QFF can grow to become a globally active company representing Japan.

Mr. Shigehisa Nakagawa, Chief Investment Officer, Caygan Capital :

I have made a number of investments that contribute to measures against climate change. Among them, I am excited that QFF’s technology holds great promise as an adaptation measure to climate change. I am truly looking forward to supporting a deep tech company with the potential to succeed globally.

 

■ Comment from Norio Kikuchi, CEO & CTO, Quantum Flowers & Foods, Inc.

The unique feature of neutron breeding technology is that it is excellent for modifying microorganisms as well as plants. Over the past year, QFF has accumulated experience with a variety of microorganisms, and has also accumulated technologies to successfully bring out these characteristics. Modification technologies such as genetic modification and genome editing are not universal in terms of their targets, costs, and regulations. We hope to spread neutron beam breeding technology around the world as one of the methods for developing biological resources to cope with increasingly serious climate change.

 

*1  World’s first “commercial neutron breeding service using an accelerator” in Japan and abroad. 3 patents granted; as of October 2024, according to our own research. Reference: JATAFF Journal, Vol. 11, No. 9 (2023) Expectations for mutation breeding using neutron beams Tsutomu Kuboyama  *2 In the case of plants such as flowers, vegetables, and grains, new strains can be created in as little as one year. With conventional technology, it takes 3 to 5 years or more. *3 Laboratory level