Sakata America Holding Company Unveils New Headquarters

Jennifer Zurko

Sakata America Holding Company, Inc. (SAH), a major subsidiary of Sakata Seed Corporation, had the grand opening of its new headquarters, the Sakata Woodland Innovation Center, on September 12, 2024.

This state-of-the-art facility, located on 219 acres in Yolo County, California, marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to advancing agricultural innovation and sustainability. It 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.

Dave Armstrong, President and CEO of Sakata Seed America, said, “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-sq. ft. state-of-the-art lab building.

■ An 18,000-sq. ft. 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-sq. ft. 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—Davis, enhancing collaborative opportunities with the world-renowned agricultural science institution. And 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.

The grand opening celebration 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. GT