Based in Fukouka, welzo is an agri-horticultural business that includes producing and processing foods as well as importing fertilisers and other agricultural materials.
On June 3, the company announced the establishment of a new Singapore-based subsidiary.
“Singapore is not just a gateway to South East Asia—it’s a global hub where innovation and agriculture can converge. With this new subsidiary, we aim to deliver high-quality Japanese products to local markets while building sustainable partnerships rooted in mutual growth. This marks a crucial step in our journey toward global co-creation,” said welzo president and CEO Yoshifumi Kanao in the press statement.
The company also sees this as an opportunity to capture insights into local farming and merge it with its agtech expertise in Japan to enhance farming practices in the region, and vice versa.
“Agriculture often relies on experience and intuition. In SEA, where agricultural production is thriving, we believe that by transforming tacit knowledge into explicit knowledge and sharing it, more people can improve productivity and quality in farming,” said Takahumi Yamamura, director of welzo Singapore.
Yamamura said that while no formal partnerships have been established at this early stage, welzo is keen to explore potential collaborations with local governments, startups, and farmers in SEA.
Meanwhile, the company actively engages in agtech research to develop innovative solutions that improve agricultural productivity and sustainability.
It is currently conducting two joint research projects with Kyushu University.
In one project, the company is researching AI-driven environmental control to enable consistent and efficient crop management in controlled growing environments.
The other is a Plasma Green Agriculture project, which is working to develop low-emission fertiliser technology that uses nitrogen from the air to support sustainable farming.Additionally, one of its group companies is JAHT, which is engaged in agricultural technology innovation, development of high-quality agricultural materials, and on-site cultivation guidance.
JAHT has developed a strawberry upland cultivation system, which has well received for its high yield and durability, along with improved taste and appearance thanks to organic fertiliser use.
Making moves: SEA a key expansion
welzo sees SEA a key commercial export opportunity and a crucial trading partner in future-proofing its agri business.
“We have recognised the need to expand overseas. Recently, multiple departments within our company began exploring international business opportunities. Considering various internal needs, we take it as a right time decided to move forward with our expansion at this time.
Setting up a regional base in Singapore is a strategic move to tap into SEA’s rapidly growing and diverse markets,” said Yamamura.
The expansion southwards is part of the company’s strategic plan to tap into the opportunities in the emerging markets.
“SEA presents significant potential as a consumer market, with a growing middle class driven by rising income levels and continued economic growth expected in the region. We see it as an attractive destination for exporting agricultural and horticultural products,” said Takahumi Yamamura, director of welzo Singapore.
Additionally, the expansion will help to strengthen its supply chain resilience amid rising global uncertainties.
“In terms of importing agricultural materials into Japan, we’ve recognised the need to diversify our supply chain and reduce country-specific risks. From this perspective as well, the SEA market holds strong appeal,” Yamamura told AgTechNavigator.
Its outpost in Singapore will serve as a central hub for marketing and business development.
With this expansion, the firm will be able to evaluate the opportunities available across the region.
Yamamura said: “At present, we have established a marketing base in Singapore to assess the needs of various Southeast Asian countries. We have not designated specific countries as initial targets. Across the region, agriculture is a key focus area. We are also considering expanding our home gardening business in line with market growth in each country.”
