Announcements
EF Polymer has launched a collaborative field evaluation with The Morning Star Packing Company, the world’s largest tomato processing company, and Kanematsu Corporation during the 2026 California processing tomato season.
Conducted under commercial growing conditions in California, the evaluation will assess the performance of EF Polymer's plant-based superabsorbent polymer technology in processing tomato production. The trial is designed to generate insights into crop performance, yield, fruit quality, and the technology's potential role in supporting more efficient water and nutrient management.
EF Polymer's organic superabsorbent polymer is derived from upcycled agricultural byproducts such as orange and banana peels. The technology is designed to help improve soil moisture retention and support efficient use of water and nutrients in agricultural production systems.
"We believe meaningful innovation begins with careful evaluation under real world commercial conditions," said Aaron Giampietro of The Morning Star Packing Company. "This collaboration with Kanematsu reflects our commitment to exploring technologies that may create value for growers, customers, and the broader food system while maintaining a disciplined, data driven approach."
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"California has long been at the forefront of agricultural innovation and resource-efficient farming," said Narayan Gurjar, Founder and CEO of EF Polymer. "This collaboration with The Morning Star Company and Kanematsu gives us an important opportunity to evaluate our technology under commercial conditions and better understand how plant-based solutions can support growers while helping shape the next phase of our product development."
As global agriculture faces increasing pressure from water scarcity, soil degradation, and climate related challenges, there is growing interest in technologies that can support more efficient resource utilization and long term agricultural sustainability. The results from the 2026 field evaluation will help inform future research into resource efficient production practices, including the evaluation of irrigation management approaches.
Under its medium-term management plan, “integration 1.1,” Kanematsu aims to become a solutions provider that leads the transformation of efficient and sustainable supply chains. As one of its key initiatives, the company is promoting GX. In the agriculture and food GX field, a particular area of focus, Kanematsu leverages its strengths in food supply chains and works with farmers, fertilizer manufacturers, feed manufacturers, meat packers, food manufacturers, retailers, and foodservice companies to advance a range of GX projects. https://www.kanematsu.co.jp/
EF Polymer is a pioneering deep-tech startup focused on creating 100% natural super absorbent polymers (SAP) made from orange peels. Our product is designed to significantly benefit farmers and reduce production costs, particularly in water and fertilizer usage, while boosting crop yields. Beyond agriculture, we are expanding the impact across industries to integrate our organic SAPs into a range of products, including ice packs, cosmetic, and personal care products. https://efpolymer.jp/
