Job Description
Posting Start Date:  8/28/26
Offer ID:  2575
Unit:  Vilmorin-Mikado
Job Title:  Breeder assistant
Job Location:  Isumi
Contract type:  Permanent
Job Description: 

Job description

Summary:  The Assistant breeder, under the guidance of the breeder, carry out cultivation management in the breeding program and conduct necessary surveys. This role requires not only knowledge of biological cultivation to properly operate and manage breeding programs, but also an understanding of  basics of plant breeding, as well as labor management for part-timers who support cultivation management and operations.

 

Details:  The successful candidate will work at Vilmorin Mikado Otaki Farm in Otaki-match, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.  Mainly responsible for managing the cultivation of tomato breeding programs and running various trials at the growing greenhouse. Specifically, handle tomato sowing, transplanting, seed harvesting, personnel management (part-time workers), and data entry into the company's own database. Additionally, will work in cooperation with farm management team and other research staff.

What we expect of you

Breeding Activities Support:

  • Under the guidance of breeders, tomato cultivation management and data collection are conducted at Otaki station. Input collected survey data and manage the breeding database. 
  • Providing support for marker-assisted breeding in breeding programs.
  • Manage the production of breeding seeds and coordinate with the seed production department for large-scale F1 seed production.
  • Manage the seed import/export for breeding.
  • Supporting breeders introducing new breeding technologies.
  • Coordination and support for external trials, conducting external trial surveys and data collection.
  • Perform various tasks on behalf of breeders as needed.

Main Goal

  • Agricultural and principles of genetics knowledge　
  • Strong communication skills, both orally and written.
  • Proficient in Japanese
  • English is added value, especially for written, communication
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects, with end results in mind.
  • Ability to analyze and synthesize program data and translate them into actionable insights.
  • Ability to bring new ideas to the table and make proposals for breeding program improvement.
  • Experience with operational IT Breeding system and experience using field and greenhouse data collection tools.
  • Ability to interact effectively with a global team (travel may be required).
  • Act as advocate for program with internal and external stakeholders

Function

  • Freshly graduated accepted.
  • Graduates who have taken courses in agriculture or biology.
  • Graduated Master of Agriculture, Biology and Science is add value.
  • Understanding of basic principles of plant breeding and Mendelian genetics.
  • Experience with statistical analysis software.
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Information at a Glance
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Vilmorin-Mikado is a Franco-Japanese seed producer that has specialized in creating, producing, and selling vegetable seeds for professionals since 1743. As a responsible partner in the vegetable food chain, Vilmorin-Mikado is committed to helping better nourish people everywhere. Our wide range of unique, original seeds is distributed on five continents in more than 100 countries. Vilmorin-Mikado has more than 1,000 employees and recorded sales of €230 million in 2022-2023, of which 15% was entirely devoted to research. World leader in carrots and witloof chicory, Vilmorin-Mikado is also a major player in salads, tomatoes, sweet peppers, kabocha squashes, daikon radishes and bunching onions. Nearly three centuries ago, Vilmorin-Mikado's founders began our Tree Seeds work, which actively contributes to rebuilding sustainable forests.

Limagrain is a global company with deep local roots. Our parent company is an agricultural cooperative based in the Limagne-Val d’Allier plain, in the heart of Central France’s Auvergne region, while we are an international seed and agri-food group with some 9,600 employees working in 53 countries. As the 4th largest seed company in the world, we achieved sales of 2.522 billion euros in 2023-2024, with additional sales of 729 million euros from activities carried out in collaboration with our strategic partners.
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