Message from the Head of Research & Development

As a manufacturing partner,
we will continue to take on the challenge
of creating new value.

Director & Senior Vice President, Head of Research & Development
Yukihiro Nishimoto

Our R&D at T. HASEGAWA has, at its core, advanced flavor and fragrance creation technologies refined over many years. In addition, we possess a broad range of capabilities including analysis, synthesis, food processing (extraction, enzymatic treatment, fermentation, thermal reactions, fruit preparations) , formulation (emulsion, liposomes, powders), colors, sensory evaluation, and application development (prototype development and application testing for end products). By combining these core technologies with marketing expertise, we have promoted the development of high-quality, high-value-added products that meet the increasingly diverse expectations of our customers. Furthermore, leveraging our global R&D network as a key strength, we have established a research framework that quickly captures trends emerging in each region and shifts in consumer values, enabling us to respond swiftly to movements in global markets.

In recent years, interest in “health and wellness” has risen markedly in the food and fragrance/cosmetics markets, and consumer values and lifestyles have become increasingly diverse. As a result, a capability to offer personalized proposals tailored to individual lifestyles is now more strongly required than ever before. In addition, as sustainability and ethical consumption become more widespread, reducing environmental impact and using resources in a circular manner have been elevated from “options” to “prerequisites” that can determine corporate value.

In light of these trends, our R&D organization is working to achieve both the emotional value of aroma—such as “deliciousness” and “comfort”—and practical value such as quality and functionality, by advancing foundational technologies and applied research in an integrated manner. We are further refining the entire process, from analysis and synthesis of aroma components to sensory evaluation and quality design, and—starting from our customers’ challenges—will translate this into highly reproducible development and faster proposals.

In the area of “sustainability and ethics,” we are comprehensively reexamining everything from raw material sourcing to manufacturing processes and approaches to resource utilization, and working to balance reduced environmental impact with stable supply. In our synthesis research as well, we are improving manufacturing processes from the perspective of green chemistry and strengthening initiatives that contribute to the realization of a sustainable society, including reductions in CO2 emissions in production processes.

In “digital innovation,” we have begun leveraging large language models (LLMs) to enhance exploration and decision-making in R&D. While respecting the craftsmanship rooted in experience and intuition, we will expand possibilities through the power of data and technology, further accelerating development speed and improving the precision of our proposals.

These advances are also the result of efforts to accelerate the fusion of knowledge and the creation of innovation through industry–academia collaboration as well as partnerships with other companies. Going forward, we will continue to take on the challenge of creating new value together with our partners both inside and outside the company.

“Better through Sensing”

Flavors and fragrances hold infinite potential to enrich daily life, support people’s hearts and actions, and contribute to solving societal challenges. By deeply analyzing aroma trends, honing new technologies, and strengthening our proposal capabilities to anticipate latent needs, we will continue to deliver proposals that consistently exceed expectations as a manufacturing partner.