Key Takeaways:
- Valent BioSciences, MGK, and Valent North America will merge under a new organization, Sumitomo Biorational Company LLC (SBC), effective April 2026.
- The new entity, based in Libertyville, Illinois, will serve as Sumitomo Chemical’s Global Center of Excellence for Biorational Innovation.
- SBC will focus on sustainable solutions derived from natural sources such as microbials and botanicals.
- Dr. Shinsuke (Shin) Shojima has been appointed President and CEO of SBC.
- Valent U.S.A. will continue operating separately, managing regional sales and marketing in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
Valent BioSciences to Join Forces Under Sumitomo Biorational Company
Valent BioSciences will unite with MGK and Valent North America under the new Sumitomo Biorational Company (SBC), a subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical Company Ltd., launching in April 2026. Headquartered in Libertyville, Illinois, the new organization will act as the company’s Global Center of Excellence for Biorational Innovation, designed to advance sustainable agricultural and environmental health solutions worldwide.
By consolidating the expertise of Valent BioSciences and its sister companies, SBC aims to strengthen the development of products derived from natural sources, including microbials and botanicals. The unified structure is expected to enhance collaboration, accelerate innovation, and streamline customer experiences across global markets.
Leadership and Strategic Direction for Valent BioSciences and SBC
The newly formed company will be led by Dr. Shinsuke (Shin) Shojima, who brings more than three decades of leadership experience across the Sumitomo Chemical Group. As President and CEO, Dr. Shojima will oversee SBC’s agricultural and environmental health operations, emphasizing collaboration, research excellence, and sustainable product development.
Executives from the merging companies highlighted the move as an opportunity to accelerate innovation:
- Salman Mir, President and CEO of Valent BioSciences, stated: “With SBC, we build on our strong foundation by creating a Global Center of Excellence that accelerates the next wave of sustainable innovation for customers worldwide.”
- Steve Gullickson, President and CEO of MGK, added: “SBC strengthens our ability to bring innovative botanical solutions to market more quickly, meeting the needs of our customers and communities.”
- Andy Lee, President and CEO of Valent North America, commented: “By combining our strengths through SBC, we are creating integrated solutions that drive productivity and sustainability for our customers.”
Valent BioSciences’ Role in Advancing Biorational Innovation
The creation of Sumitomo Biorational Company will consolidate research, development, and supply chain capabilities across multiple business units, positioning Valent BioSciences at the center of a coordinated effort to deliver regenerative agricultural and environmental health technologies.
Key goals of the integration include:
- Expanding global research and development capabilities.
- Accelerating innovation through collaboration and shared expertise.
- Strengthening leadership in biorational and regenerative solutions.
- Creating new opportunities for talent development and career growth.
Valent U.S.A. will continue to operate independently, focusing on regional markets across North America. Meanwhile, the Public Health and Forest Health business of Valent BioSciences and the Biostimulants and Specialty units at Mycorrhizal Applications will conduct business under the SBC structure.
