Woodland, California, USA
September 2024
Sakata America Holding Company, Inc. (SAH), a major subsidiary of Sakata Seed Corporation, is proud to announce the grand opening of its new headquarters, the Sakata Woodland Innovation Center. This state-of-the-art facility, located on 219 acres of prime agricultural land in Yolo County, California, marks a significant milestone in the company's commitment to advancing agricultural innovation and sustainability.
The Woodland Innovation Center will serve as the central hub for SAH's operations, consolidating the company's key functions into one expansive campus, including research and development, seed production, processing, testing, packaging, distribution and biotechnology —the embodiment of a “21st-century Farmstead” for Sakata.
Dave Armstrong, President and CEO of Sakata Seed America, states, “The expansion of the Woodland Innovation Center is an exciting and necessary step for the future of Sakata. As we broaden our leadership position in an expanding portfolio of crops, it’s imperative that we support our growing business and deepen our roots in one of the world’s most dynamic agriculture regions—the ‘Silicon Valley of seed.’ Our headquarters relocation to Woodland reflects our commitment to California’s vital agriculture and seed sectors, and the investment enables us to consolidate R&D and multiple other functions on a single, state-of-the-art campus.”
The development of the Woodland Innovation Center has been strategically planned in four phases. Phases 1 and 2, completed in November 2018, established a research head house, greenhouses for key Sakata crops, a farm shop, a washery building, and a LEED-certified office building. The recently completed Phases 3 and 4, which began in November 2022, include:
- A 9,000 square foot state-of-the-art lab building.
- An 18,000-square-foot office building constructed in alignment with LEED sustainability standards.
- A solar energy plant covering all electricity needs for the entire site, reflecting Sakata’s commitment to sustainability.
- A 32,000-square-foot warehouse facility featuring cutting-edge milling and processing equipment with a proprietary seed mill design exclusive to Sakata.
- A horticulturally curated campus designed to promote the collaboration and well-being of employees.
The move to Woodland will also strengthen Sakata’s ties with the University of California at Davis, enhancing collaborative opportunities with the world-renowned agricultural science institution.
Sakata’s legacy of excellence in the seed industry, beginning with broccoli and expanding into a wide assortment of vegetables and flowers, has been enhanced by significant additional investments in infrastructure and personnel across North and Central America. The new headquarters will support the integration of five research stations, multiple seed processing sites, labs and administration offices throughout North America and foster global collaboration among Sakata’s breeding teams.
Hiroshi Sakata, President of Sakata Seed Corporation
The grand opening celebration, held on September 12, 2024, brought together 200 guests, including Japan’s Ambassador to the United States, Shigeo Yamada, Hiroshi Sakata, President of Sakata Seed Corporation, California State Assembly and Senate members, local dignitaries, key business partners, SAH Executive Management, employees, and media. The event featured a local chef’s catering using Sakata products, facility tours, a Japanese taiko drum performance, and a traditional Japanese Sake Ceremony.
Sakata America Holding Company, Inc. (SAH) is a major research, seed production, and marketing-distribution subsidiary of Sakata Seed Corporation that services the North and Central American vegetable and flower seed markets. Sakata Seed Corporation was founded in Yokohama, Japan, in 1913. The company’s mission is to contribute to the betterment of life and culture of the people around the world with values created through its innovative flower and vegetable varieties and services.
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