Ukrainian biotech company BTU has made its first shipment of soybean inoculant BIOZ Actijump to ICL Japan as part of their strategic partnership.

With a guaranteed concentration of at least 0.5 × 10⁹ CFU/g, BIOZ Actijump is a soybean inoculant containing 100% live nitrogen-fixing microorganisms – Bradyrhizobium and Sinorhizobium species

The company says this advanced formulation supports root nodulation and enhances nitrogen uptake, promoting healthier plants and higher yields while reducing dependency on synthetic fertilizers.

For a product that is central to Japanese cuisine, Japan is heavily reliant on soybean imports, producing less than 10% of what the country consumes. In 2023/2024, Japan’s soybean production was estimated at 253,000 metric tonnes by the USDA, while imports were around 3.5 million tonnes and total supply was 3.9 million tonnes, allowing for stocks.

“This launch is both important and inspiring for the entire BTU team,” said Dmytro Yakovenko, Head of International Development at BTU. “We’ve invested significant effort into developing this formulation and project, and we’re proud to see the first results and recognition. It may be a small step, but it’s a meaningful one — both for our partnership with ICL and for expanding BTU’s global presence.”

BTU said the introduction of BIOZ Actijump is expected to strengthen ICL’s position in Japan’s agricultural sector and reinforce BTU’s growing presence in international markets.