Suntory Holdings Limited (hereinafter referred to as Suntory Holdings) and EF Polymer Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as EF Polymer), an environmental startup company, have entered into a capital and business alliance agreement aimed at realizing sustainable raw material procurement and stabilizing agricultural production under climate change. Under this alliance, the two companies will commence joint demonstration experiments from June to verify the impact of improved soil water retention using superabsorbent polymers on crop yield and quality. This marks the first capital and business alliance agreement between EF Polymer and a beverage manufacturer. *1

*1 According to EF Polymer's research.

Background

Due to the effects of climate change, "droughts" have become increasingly severe worldwide in recent years. Reduced rainfall and rising temperatures lead to insufficient moisture in the soil, resulting in decreased crop yields and quality, significantly impacting agricultural production. This challenge is a critical issue not only for agricultural workers but also for beverage manufacturers concerning raw material procurement and business continuity.

Suntory Group has been globally promoting initiatives, including soil improvement, such as promoting regenerative agriculture, supporting farming, and conducting joint research with academia, to achieve sustainable raw material procurement.

(Refer to https://www.suntory.co.jp/sustainability/soc_procurement/)

Meanwhile, EF Polymer has developed "EF Polymer," the world's first *2 "100% naturally derived" superabsorbent polymer for mass production, manufactured by upcycling organic resources such as discarded fruit peels. They have been working to provide solutions for stabilizing agricultural production in drought-prone environments.

*2 According to EF Polymer's research.

"EF Polymer"

Objectives of the Alliance and Overview of Demonstration Experiments

By leveraging their respective strengths, the two companies have commenced joint demonstration experiments from June to verify the effectiveness of an approach to "stabilize agricultural production by improving soil water retention." Specifically, they plan to verify the following aspects when "EF Polymer" is applied to yuzu cultivation:

Effectiveness of improving soil water retention

Impact on crop yield and quality

Effectiveness in reducing irrigation (watering) load

Expected effects of "EF Polymer" on soil water retention

Yuzu is one of the important raw materials for Suntory Group and is a crop susceptible to rainfall and moisture conditions, which is why it was selected as the subject for this demonstration experiment.

Furthermore, this demonstration experiment will be conducted with the cooperation of yuzu farmers in the prefecture, under the framework of the comprehensive cooperation agreement concluded in April 2025 between Suntory Holdings, Kochi Prefecture, and the National University Corporation Kochi University (refer to News Release No. 14794).

Future Developments

Through this alliance and demonstration experiments, the two companies aim to establish new agricultural methods that can cope with climate risks such as drought. In the future, they will strive to realize sustainable agriculture and build a stable raw material procurement base, with an eye toward expanding to other agricultural products both domestically and internationally.

Comment from Masaaki Fujiwara, Senior Managing Executive Officer, Head of Supply Chain Division, Suntory Holdings Limited:

In today's highly uncertain external environment, strengthening the supply chain, and particularly improving the sustainability of agriculture, is essential to stably deliver high-quality, safe, and secure products to our customers. Through collaboration with EF Polymer, which possesses unique technology, we will find effective solutions and further promote the transition to sustainable agriculture.

Comment from Narayan Lal Gargjar, Founder and CEO, EF Polymer Co., Ltd.:

We are delighted to be able to partner with Suntory Holdings. By combining the strengths of both companies, we are confident that we can create greater value in addressing the common challenge of water resource conservation. Through this partnership, we will expand the possibilities of 100% organic resource-derived, circular materials and contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.

▼ Suntory Group Sustainability Site

https://www.suntory.co.jp/sustainability/

▼ EF Polymer Homepage

https://efpolymer.jp/

Inquiries regarding this matter

Suntory Holdings Limited Public Relations Department

TEL: 03-5779-1150 (Tokyo), 06-6346-0835 (Osaka)

EF Polymer Co., Ltd. Public Relations

・Inafuku

050-1785-7082

・Nakao

050-3628-8676

[email protected]

FACT BOX

  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Partnership
  • Organizations: EF Polymer