Oct 28, 2025Companies form new biorational solutions organization
Valent BioSciences, MGK, and Valent North America have formed a new biorational solutions company in an effort to streamline innovations and speed the delivery of innovations to market.
Sumitomo Biorational Co. (SBC), a subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical Co. (SCC), will begin operations in April 2026, according to a news release. Based in Libertyville, Illinois, the organization will serve as SCC’s Global Center of Excellence for Biorational Innovation.
The Center of Excellence will focus on best practices and talent development while developing products that contribute to regenerative agriculture and sustainable environmental health, according to the release.
Biorational solutions, derived from natural or biological origins, help control pests, manage soil and plant health and enhance crop physiology.
Valent U.S.A. will continue to operate separately, maintaining its focus on regional sales and marketing across the U.S., Canada and Mexico, according to the release.
The new company will be led by president and CEO Shinsuke (Shin) Shojima, who has more than 35 years of executive experience across the Sumitomo Chemical Group. Shojima will manage the global agricultural and environmental health practices for biorational technologies.
“Valent BioSciences has a long and successful history of pioneering biorational technologies,” Valent BioSciences president and CEO Salman Mir said in the release. “With SBC, we build on that foundation by creating a Global Center of Excellence that accelerates the next wave of sustainable innovation for customers worldwide.”
The integration enables SBC to:
• Expand research, development and supply chain capabilities
• Streamline the customer experience
• Accelerate innovation through collaboration and knowledge sharing
• Enhance global leadership and brand presence in regenerative solutions
• Develop talent more strategically and create new career opportunities
