PRESS RELEASE
For immediate release
Dec. 2023

Yaegaki Biotechnology, Inc.

Contact: Marketing Div.
mktgbio.jp@yaegaki.com

Yaegaki Biotechnology, Inc. (Japan) and Institute of Jinan Red Ginseng (SouthKorea) started international joint research to enhance the value of agriculturalproducts.
On December 19, 2023, the Jinan Red Ginseng Research Institute of South Korea, led by President Kim TaeYoung, and Yaegaki Biotechnology, Inc., headquartered in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture with President Yusuke
Hasegawa at the helm, formalized a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) forcollaborative research. This alliance aims to create innovative, world-class products that elevate the healthbenefits of red ginseng and other agricultural commodities by leveraging the distinctive ingredients andadvanced fermentation/emulsification technologies of both Japan and Korea.
In the face of global health challenges, managing the physical and mental well-being of an aging population iscrucial for reducing societal costs and prolonging healthy lifespans. Japan and South Korea are in the spotlight
as exemplary nations dealing with a super-aged demographic, particularly among developed countries. Redginseng has long been celebrated for its myriad health benefits, with Korean red ginseng being particularly
esteemed and utilized worldwide.
Japan has refined its fermentation technology over the years. As an industry leader, Yaegaki Biotechnology, Inc.
has enhanced the value of agricultural products by fermenting them with diverse microorganisms. With over
five decades of expertise, the company has possessed mass cultivation techniques for microorganisms and hasaugmented the functional components of agricultural products through fermentation. Additionally, possessing
specialized emulsification, as well as refinement techniques related to edible pigment research, enables thecompany to create products that improve the bioavailability of these potent ingredients. The two entities havecommitted to jointly pursue the research and development of a new class of high-functioning food ingredients
between Japan and South Korea.
As research into the health-promoting properties of food components aimed at extending healthy lifespans
flourishes globally and the market for such ingredients grows, with competition becoming ever fiercer,
international collaboration in developing innovative high-function ingredients is invaluable. Such endeavors
hold promise not just for Japan and South Korea but for global markets, benefiting both nations significantly.

1The signing of the MOU between Yaegaki Biotechnology, Inc. and J Institute of Jinan Red Ginseng
Research and development of functional ingredients by Yaegaki Biotechnology
Yaegaki Biotechnology is part of a group of companies anchored by the Yaegaki Sake Brewery, which boasts a350-year history in Banshu-Himeji, a renowned sake-producing region. Our expertise extends beyond brewing
to the refinement technologies aimed at extracting various pigments from natural ingredients. Additionally, weare dedicated to investigating beneficial microorganisms benefit to human health, such as yeast, fungi,basidiomycetes (mushrooms), and lactic acid bacteria.
In recent years, research into the fermentation of agricultural products using beneficial microorganisms,
aimed at enhancing their value and functionality, has been gaining attention. As these products are based on
ingredients with a proven safety record in food experiences and are created through a fermentation process
utilizing GRAS microorganisms, they are easily introduced to the market. Additionally, due to the risingconsumer preference for natural products, it is anticipated that there will be an increase in various needs inthe future.

We were established in 1979 and specialize in research and development in fermentation, emulsification andrefinement technology.

2Red Ginseng and Institute of Jinan Red Ginseng
The Institute of Jinan Red Ginseng, established in 2008, stands as South Korea's sole local government research
entity specializing in red ginseng. Operating under the auspices of the Jinan County Government, the instituteis a beacon in the pursuit of functional components found in red ginseng and medicinal herbs, as well as inspearheading research into future technologies.
Furthermore, the institute is actively involved in the commercialization of functional ingredients for theindustrialization of red ginseng and medicinal herbs. It also carries out product testing, analysis, and quality
control. By sharing its research facilities and equipment with universities, research institutes, and companies
engaged in red ginseng and medicinal herb industrialization, along with a network of human resources, theinstitute provides robust technical and research support. It fosters mutual technical cooperation and offers
outsourcing services to related industries within the Jinan-gun area.
Jinan is distinguished as South Korea's most prolific region producer of ginseng. The Jinan ginseng is not only
notable for its high saponin content, a key functional ingredient of ginseng, but also for its superior taste andaroma, attributed to the region's highland climate.

As South Korea's sole local government research institute specializing in red ginseng, it conducts cuttingedge research on red ginseng.

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