Closed-Type Plant Factories and New Cultivation Methods

「Also, as an SDG-related initiative, the company is conducting demonstration tests of greenhouse heating equipment fueled by waste plastic.」

「Also, as part of its SDG-related initiatives, the company conducted a demonstration introduction of “Coco Berry Farm®,” which uses heating equipment fueled by waste automobile oil as an alternative to conventional heating systems powered by heavy oil and other fossil fuels, at an automobile dealer in Gunma Prefecture.」

「To contribute to the SDGs, the company introduced a demonstration facility for tomato Sprayponics® equipped with a boiler fueled by used cooking oil as an alternative to conventional fossil fuels.」

「The company aims to develop technology enabling optimal control of the greenhouse environment for each crop by analyzing parameters such as the greenhouse environment and crop growth using AI and introducing new equipment, while partnering with companies specializing in technologies such as electronic equipment.」

「On 15 November 2019, the company registered a patent for a “hydroponic cultivation apparatus and hydroponic cultivation control program.” This is the company's proprietary expertise, which facilitates nutrient-solution management at each cultivation stage through a programmed nutrient-solution control apparatus.」

「On 19 April this year, the company obtained a patent for a “method of cultivating low-potassium vegetables.” This resulted from its development of cultivation plants and nutrient-solution management technologies. To date, it has developed 7 types of hydroponic cultivation plants and provides cultivation plants suited to individual crops.」

「In the facilities materials business, sales of insulating materials to protect crops from cold weather declined due to the mild winter, but demand for restoration of agricultural facilities damaged by repeated typhoons, increased sales of shading and irrigation materials due to last summer’s extreme heat, exports of hydroponic cultivation plants, completion of large-scale projects for plants combined with solar power generation and closed plant factories, and higher revenue from completed greenhouse projects resulted in revenue of ¥10,826 million, up 3.2% year on year. Segment profit also increased 50.6% to ¥345 million.」

「In the facilities materials business, demand for restoration of agricultural facilities damaged by repeated typhoons, increased sales of shading and irrigation materials due to last summer’s extreme heat, and steady performance in the hydroponic cultivation plant business, including exports and the completion of large-scale projects for plants combined with solar power generation and closed plant factories, resulted in revenue of ¥7,384 million, up 7.1% year on year. Segment profit also increased 64.4% to ¥251 million.」

「For natural-light hydroponic cultivation plants and closed-type plant factories, the company is developing plants unlike those of other companies by leveraging its many years of accumulated cultivation expertise as a seed and seedling company.」

「For closed-type plant factories, the company newly developed a cultivation management method for lettuce with a low potassium content, intended for people who need to restrict their dietary potassium intake.」