Background

In recent years, achieving both stable food security and reduced environmental impact has become a critical global challenge. The increasing food demand driven by population growth and the expansion of agricultural diseases due to climate change have led to excessive reliance on conventional chemical pesticides, raising concerns about environmental pollution and the emergence of resistant pathogens.
Japan’s “Green Food System Strategy” and the European Union’s “Farm to Fork Strategy” set ambitious targets to reduce the risks associated with chemical pesticide use by 50% by 2030, making the transition to sustainable agriculture imperative.
While traditional functional water3) technologies have faced limitations in efficacy and durability, the metal ion-type cavitation plasma sterilizing water developed through our research has demonstrated high control effectiveness against multiple plant pathogens, with proven persistence of over five months.
This innovative disease control technology not only addresses critical challenges in agriculture but is also expected to have future applications in medical and public health fields, contributing to sustainable and safe disease management solutions.

• ※1） A technology that efficiently generates low-temperature plasma within a liquid containing numerous microbubbles produced by the cavitation phenomenon, by applying high-frequency, high-voltage pulses between electrodes to induce discharge.
• ※2） A collective term for highly reactive chemical species derived from oxygen molecules, including superoxide anion (·O₂⁻), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), hydroxyl radical (·OH), and singlet oxygen (¹O₂).
• ※3） Aqueous solutions that have acquired reproducible useful functions through artificial treatment, with their processing methods and functions scientifically clarified or in the process of being elucidated; examples include electrolyzed hypochlorous acid water, ozone water, and ultrafine bubble water.

Outlook

We plan to complete data accumulation and various tests necessary for obtaining pesticide registration, followed by the prototyping of a continuous-operation system in 2027 and development of a mass-production system by 2029. From 2031 onwards, we aim to launch the product as a full-scale agricultural disinfectant, accelerating its adoption primarily in organic and conventional farming markets.
Furthermore, we are considering expansion into the European market as an alternative to copper-based fungicides, as well as development for use in hot and humid regions such as Southeast Asia.
At the same time, we actively envisage broadening applications in medical, public health, and food sanitation fields, where the technology’s safety and low environmental impact make it a promising sterilization solution across various sectors.
To promote this social implementation, Professor Yoshihiro Oka, CEO of YSH Research Institute Co., Ltd.—a startup originating from the University of Hyogo—has personally founded the company. This structure allows for continuous and efficient advancement of the technology’s practical application and commercialization based on the university’s research seeds.
Moreover, this technology aligns with Japan’s "Green Food System Strategy" target to reduce chemical pesticide risk by 50% and supports the expansion of organic agriculture, representing a socially significant innovation that balances environmental impact reduction with stable food production.