Koji Cultivation Equipment Market Report 2026

The koji cultivation equipment market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $1.31 billion in 2025 to $1.43 billion in 2026 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to increasing demand for traditional fermented foods, adoption of mechanized incubation systems, growth of soy sauce and miso production, rising awareness of food safety standards, expansion of small-scale fermentation businesses.

The koji cultivation equipment market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $2.03 billion by 2030 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to rising demand for industrial-scale koji production, adoption of fully automated cultivation systems, growth in biotechnology and functional food sectors, integration of IoT-based monitoring in fermentation processes, increasing export of fermented food products. Major trends in the forecast period include advancements in controlled-environment systems, integration of automated koji cultivation equipment, improved hygiene and contamination control measures, expansion of industrial-scale fermentation capabilities, rising focus on consistency and quality in fermented products.

The increasing adoption of automation in food production processes is expected to drive the growth of the koji cultivation equipment market in the coming years. Automation in food production involves the use of mechanical systems, electronics, sensors, computer controls, and software to execute and manage manufacturing tasks with minimal human intervention. The uptake of automation in food production is rising due to the growing demand for consistent product quality, enhanced food safety, and improved production efficiency. Koji cultivation equipment facilitates automated food production by allowing precise control of key environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, and airflow during fermentation. For example, in October 2024, AgFunderNews, a US-based online publication covering agrifood technology and investment trends, reported that global robotic installations in the food and beverage industry increased by 18% year over year, with the United States leading adoption. Therefore, the increasing adoption of automation in food production processes is driving the growth of the koji cultivation equipment market.

Key companies operating in the koji cultivation equipment market are increasingly focusing on advancements in automated humidity control technologies, such as static equal dehumidification cultivation systems, to address the growing demand for consistent, high-quality fermentation processes in food and beverage production, biotechnology, and industrial enzyme manufacturing. Static equal dehumidification cultivation systems maintain uniform humidity throughout the cultivation medium using sensor-based monitoring and controlled airflow, instead of relying on manual adjustments or uneven ambient conditions. For example, in August 2024, Fujiwara Techno-Art Co., Ltd., a Japan-based manufacturer of brewing and fermentation machinery, launched the Rotary Ginjo Automatic Koji Making Device “FEDY.” This automated koji production system integrates patented static equal humidity cultivation technology to enable stable, large-scale production of ginjo-class koji. The FEDY system includes a rotary, automated koji-making chamber with precise humidity control, ensuring consistent mold growth across deep grain layers ranging from 180 to 250 mm.

In May 2023, NIZO Food Research, a Netherlands-based provider of food research, fermentation technology, and alternative protein solutions, partnered with Yaegaki Biotechnology for an undisclosed amount. Through this partnership, NIZO and Yaegaki aimed to advance the development of alternative meat products using mushroom mycelium derived from traditional Japanese koji mould, enhancing both technological capabilities and sustainable protein innovation. Yaegaki Biotechnology is a Japan-based provider of fermentative research and biotechnology solutions specializing in mushroom mycelia and koji mould for food applications.

Major companies operating in the koji cultivation equipment market are Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Alfa Laval AB, Panasonic Healthcare Co. Ltd., Nihon Seiki Co. Ltd., SPX Flow Inc., Kojiya Co. Ltd., Takara Bio Inc., Hisaka Works Ltd., Amano Enzyme Inc., Nihon Jyozo Kogyo Co. Ltd., Memmert GmbH & Co. KG, Eppendorf AG, Yamato Sanko Co. Ltd., Shinagawa Machinery Works Co. Ltd., Shikoku Kakoki Co. Ltd., Fujiwara Techno-Art Co. Ltd., Fermentec Co. Ltd., Kikkoman Biochemifa Co. Ltd., Takagi Corporation, Nagata Brewing Machinery Co. Ltd., Nippon Jozo, Chang Rong Group, Guangdong Tianniang Intelligent Equipment Co. Ltd.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the koji cultivation equipment market in 2025. Europe is expected to be the highest-growth region in the forecast period. The regions covered in the koji cultivation equipment market report are Asia-Pacific, South East Asia, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the koji cultivation equipment market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Taiwan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA, Canada, Italy, Spain.

The koji cultivation equipment market consists of sales of koji incubators, koji fermentation chambers, koji trays, koji fermentation racks, temperature control units, humidity control systems, automated koji making machines, spore inoculation systems, air circulation units, sterilization units. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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