About my Start-up
Shiso & Cie is a 2-years old project based on a laboratory farm in Provence, which aims at valorising a regenerative Agriculture in our modern business network.
At this stage, several complementary partnerships are being experimented on with an agile approach. We present here one pillar of Shiso & Cie, which aims at developing a French industry/ecosystem of the Perilla frutescens plant species (Shiso is the Japanese name for this plant originating from Asia).
The Perilla is well-known in Asia. From its seeds is extracted an oil that has exceptional content of omega-3 fatty acid, one essential element that the occidental diet lacks. From its leaves are extracted essential oils that have a wide range of usages, from cosmetics or natural-care to bio-control (in agriculture), through perfumery. Leaves have also interests in Agro-alimentary sector (food colouring, taste, infusions…).
Perilla frutescens fits well in regenerative agriculture: sober plant (water, pesticides), adapted to warm temperatures, melliferous, host to bio-diversity, structuring roots for the soils. This is a good 6-months crop to include in rotation cycles of traditional or organic agriculture, with economical and ecological benefits.
To promote the use of this plant, Shiso & Cie works on each level of the chain: (i) our strong value lies on genetics and seed production: we create, select for, produce and sell Perilla seed varieties that are adapted to the different usages and French territories. (ii) we want to develop our own processing factory for vegetal oil (from seeds) and essential oils (from leaves). The purpose of this pilot factory is dual: an agile R&D basis for our partnerships with industry companies, and a small-scale production of high-quality oils to sell directly. (iii) co-creation and sales of B2C products: participating in making Shiso better known in France or Europe, and selling products with French origin to Asia.
Why your idea is a “winner"?:
Asian market for Shiso products from France exists, while Western markets are emerging. Thus our challenge is mainly to build up the production network together with the market shares. We have the know-how and want to set up our production line.
A strong point we have is that we own our genetics and manage seed and production network with farmers.
Risk is low, our approach is agile and business-driven, explaining the relatively modest investment range requested.
The potential market is great.
What is your current or intended business/revenue model?:
Our intended revenue model relies on (% of turnover is an indication for the first years)
# Selling seeds (Genetics or Seedlings to plant): direct revenue or indirect via a technical service-to-farmer package. 2% of Turnover.
# Selling vegetal oils: 90% of turnover
# Selling essential oils: 8% of turnover
Do you have any Patent or IP registered (related to the solution that you are looking for an investment)?:
- We are in process of inscription of Shiso varieties into European catalogue.
Has your technology already been implemented in any field/sector?:
# Our seeds are being sold
# We are in discussion regarding Vegetal Oil and Essential Oils
# We are in discussion regarding R&D on Essential Oil for bio-control
Which market and customer need(s)/problem(s) is (are) your products(s)/service(s) going to solve?:
We believe that developing Shiso crop in France will help at several levels:
Locally, for farmers producing Shiso, the crop brings economical and ecological benefits. To us, it is essential to offer positive innovations to restore the eco-systems, bring resilience in the context of climatic change, while re-valorising the work of farmers in the value chains.
For consumers, health benefits from Shiso products are numerous and can touch human or animals, food or well-being. It is essential to increase the content of omega-3 fatty acid in our occidental diet. Various specific health benefits are drawn from essential oils also.
For industrials, Shiso ingredients produced in France represent an opportunity to work with stable partners, good traceability, less carbon footprint, and possibly, custom products (the contents of molecules of interest vary according to the Shiso variety that is cultivated)
For the Asian market, Shiso ingredients produced in France represent an added value for traceability, quality and marketing.
For the agricultural sector, bio-control solutions (helping control pests or diseases in crop from natural molecules) are needed to help decreasing the use of conventional pesticides. The potential of Shiso in this sector is high.
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