Hello everyone! I’m Shohei.
Plant factories have been attracting attention recently.
I have worked at such a plant factory for over 10 years.
Over the past 10 years, vegetables grown at plant factories have become an essential part of our diet. I think.
In fact, the vegetables on your table may have been grown at plant factories.
A plant factory is expected to play a role in supporting the food of the future. Where and how do you grow vegetables?
In this article, we will explain plant factory in an easy-to-understand manner, especially for beginners!
Would you like to learn about the behind-the-scenes process of how the vegetables you usually eat are made? If you read this article, you will understand more about plant factories.
Why plant factory is attracting attention
So, why is plant factory attracting attention?
This is because conventional agriculture has various problems, and it has the potential to solve them.
for example,
- Responding to increasing global food demand: The world’s population continues to increase and is predicted to exceed 9 billion people by 2050.
- Adaptation to climate change: Climate change is having a major impact on agriculture, including the occurrence of extreme weather events due to global warming. Due to droughts, floods, rising temperatures, etc., the amount of agricultural crops harvested is decreasing, and there are also increasing cases of deterioration in quality.
- Increasing interest in food safety and security: There is a demand for agricultural products that use less pesticides and chemical fertilizers and are produced using methods that have a lower environmental impact.
A plant factory is characterized by the ability to artificially control the cultivation environment for crops. This means that these problems can also be addressed.
Well, if it is a plant factory, it is not completely unaffected by the external environment.
I am writing this article about the risks of plant factories from my perspective, having been in the field for a long time. Please see below for reference.
Comparing plant factory and conventional agriculture
Having said that, it’s hard to imagine it.
So, let’s take a look at the features of plant factory in an easy-to-understand way while comparing it with conventional agriculture!
| Conventional agriculture | plant factory | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Requires vast farmland. Choose a location suitable for the climate and soil. | Since it is cultivated inside a building or in a closed space, there are fewer restrictions on location. It can be constructed even in locations unsuitable for conventional agriculture, such as urban areas and abandoned farmland. |
| Environment | Depends on the natural environment, such as temperature, humidity, and sunlight hours. It is easily affected by typhoons and droughts. | Artificial control of temperature, humidity, light, carbon dioxide concentration, etc. It can be grown in a stable environment all year round, regardless of the weather. |
| Cultivation method | Cultivation using soil is common. It requires a lot of time and effort, such as soil preparation, watering, and weed control. | Hydroponic cultivation, which does not use soil, and Nutrient solution soil cultivation, which uses a small amount of soil, are the mainstream. Automated system saves labor and improves efficiency. |
| Harvesting amount | Harvesting amount may be unstable as it is easily affected by climate and pests. | Growth is promoted by controlling the environment, and the amount of harvest per unit area is higher than in conventional agriculture. |
| Quality | Quality may deteriorate due to environmental stress or pest damage. | Because they are cultivated in an optimal environment, they can produce vegetables of uniform quality and high quality. |
| Pesticides | Pesticides are commonly used to suppress the occurrence of pests and diseases. | Because it is a closed environment, the risk of pest invasion is low and the amount of pesticides used can be significantly reduced. It is also possible to grow without pesticides. |
In this way, plant factories have many advantages over conventional agriculture, and are expected to be the form of agriculture of the future.
One of the characteristics of agricultural farming is that it is easier to automate and mechanize work than traditional farming. I wrote about this in the article below.
Type of plant factory
By the way, there are actually several types of plant factories.
They are classified by cultivation method and light source used, and each has its own characteristics. for example,
- Completely artificial light type: A type that grows plants only with artificial light such as LEDs, without using sunlight.
- Solar-based type: A type that makes the most of sunlight to grow plants.
- Combination type: A type that uses both sunlight and artificial light.
Appropriateness depends on the crops being cultivated and the scale, so it is necessary to determine which type is suitable.
This point is explained in detail in the article below, so please take a look.
Cutting edge technology at plant factory
Now, we have explained that plant factories can grow crops in a stable environment.
Various cutting-edge technologies are used to maximize plant growth.
This futuristic cultivation system, which looks like something out of a science fiction movie, makes it possible to provide a stable supply of high-quality vegetables.
We will pick up some typical systems to see what kind of systems are used.
hydroponics
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, using only water and a nutrient solution mixed with Fertilizer.
Although some people may have a futuristic image of it, hydroponic cultivation is already attracting attention around the world and is an important technology for sustainable agriculture.
In hydroponics, the plant roots are soaked in a nutrient solution instead of in soil. Nutrient solution contains a well-balanced mix of nutrients necessary for plant growth (nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potassium, etc.), allowing plants to efficiently absorb nutrients through their roots.
By precisely controlling the concentration, temperature, circulation, etc. of this Nutrient Solution, it is possible to maintain optimal plant growth.
The advantage is that it saves space and improves efficiency. It also contributes to water resource conservation, stable harvesting, and reduced pesticide usage.
LED lighting
LED lighting has become indispensable in plant factories.
As a light source that replaces sunlight, it plays a role that greatly influences plant growth. Traditional plant factories used lighting such as fluorescent lights and high-pressure sodium lamps. However, in recent years, the evolution of LED lighting technology has been remarkable, and its benefits are attracting attention in plant factories, and it is rapidly becoming popular.
Reasons why LED lighting is chosen by plant factories: It is energy-saving, has a long lifespan, produces little heat, is compact and easy to install, and allows control of the wavelength and irradiation time of the light.
environmental control system
At the plant factory, in order to maximize the growth of plants, we have introduced a system called an “environmental control system” that creates an environment that is just as comfortable for plants to live in.
Specifically, by automatically controlling temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, air circulation, etc. using sensors and computers, it is possible to maintain the optimal environment for plants at all times.
The environmental control system is an important system that can be said to be the heart of a plant factory, and is an essential technology for the stable production of high-quality vegetables.
The data collected by the system is essential for optimizing cultivation. Also check out the following articles:
Possibilities of looking at plant factories from a business perspective
Now let’s think about plant factories from a business perspective.
Plant factories are attracting attention as business opportunities due to their advantages such as stable supply, high quality, and reduced environmental impact.
By the way, how much attention is it getting? The history and trends are explained in the article below.
However, of course, there are not only benefits. It is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages before entering.
merit
- Stable income: Stable production and supply is possible regardless of the weather, so you can expect a planned income.
- High quality and high added value: Since we can produce high quality vegetables, we can expect to sell them at high prices and brand them.
- Reducing environmental impact: You can build a sustainable business model that is environmentally friendly, such as reducing the amount of water and Fertilizer used, and controlling the use of pesticides.
- Easier for new entrants: Compared to traditional farming, it has the advantage of being easier to enter even if you don’t have much land or experience.
- Growth market: The plant factory market is expected to continue to grow due to global population growth and food issues.
Demerit
- High initial cost: A large amount of initial cost is required for facility construction and equipment installation.
- Running costs: Running costs such as electricity and labor costs must also be considered. In particular, please be aware that fully artificial light types tend to have high electricity bills.
- Requires technical knowledge and know-how: Operating a plant factory requires specialized knowledge such as cultivation technology and equipment management.
- Increasing market competition: There is an increasing number of entries into the plant factory business, which could increase competition.
- Consumer understanding: Consumers’ understanding of vegetables produced in plant factories is still insufficient.
While the plant factory business has many possibilities, there are also challenges to overcome. Before entering a business, it is important to fully understand not only the advantages but also the disadvantages and proceed with your business plan carefully.
Issues faced by plant factories
I wrote about the disadvantages of the plant factory business earlier.
I have been working at a plant factory for many years, but there are still many issues to be solved.
We will summarize the points you should pay special attention to. To be honest, the following are the reasons why major companies entering the plant factory industry are withdrawing one after another.
- High initial and running costs: Building a plant factory requires high initial costs for facilities and equipment. Additionally, running costs such as electricity and air conditioning costs tend to be higher than traditional farming. In particular, plant factories that use completely artificial light use a lot of electricity for LED lighting and air conditioning, making cost reduction a major issue.
- Sophistication of cultivation technology and shortage of human resources: Plant factories must utilize specialized knowledge such as plant physiology and environmental engineering to efficiently produce vegetables. However, there is a shortage of human resources with this knowledge and experience, and there is an urgent need to develop human resources.
- Limited items and varieties: Current plant factories are limited in the types of crops that can be grown. The focus is on leafy vegetables such as lettuce, but there are also many crops that are difficult to grow, such as grains such as rice and wheat, fruit trees, and root vegetables.
To solve these issues, various research and development efforts are underway around the world. For example, technological innovations aimed at saving energy and increasing efficiency are progressing, such as the development of plant factories that utilize sunlight and environmental control systems that utilize AI.
However, I cannot say that it is fully utilized. A large part still relies on human hands.
Plant factory is still a developing technology.
The secret to a successful plant factory business
So, what should you be aware of in order to succeed in the plant factory business?
To achieve this, we need to accurately grasp market needs and establish our unique strengths while maximizing the potential of our plant factories.
Please keep in mind the following points.
- Clarify your targets and needs: Who and what kind of vegetables do you want to deliver? It is important to clarify the target market and produce vegetables that meet its needs.
- Examples: nearby restaurants (vegetables with high added value, such as rare herbs and baby leaves), supermarkets (common vegetables with stable quality), health-conscious consumers (functional vegetables, pesticide-free vegetables, etc.)
- Differentiation Strategy: Clarify the difference from the competition! The plant factory business is becoming increasingly competitive with new entrants one after another. Therefore, it is important to differentiate ourselves from other factories.
- Points of differentiation: quality, variety, price, service, brand story
- Innovate: Always evolve! The plant factory is a field of intense technological innovation. It is important to always incorporate the latest technology and information to improve production efficiency and reduce costs.
- Examples: Introduction of automation and labor-saving systems, use of renewable energy, research and development of new varieties and cultivation techniques
- Generate sympathy by disseminating information: Communicating the appeal of plant factory! In order to raise awareness and promote understanding of plant factories, it is important to proactively disseminate information. Use your website and social media to communicate the benefits of plant factory and the thoughts of producers to consumers.
- Examples: Disseminating information about the plant factory’s structure and commitment to production, introducing videos and photos of cultivation and the joy of harvesting, holding tours and harvesting experience events for consumers.
In other words, the bottom line is that if you just try to grow and sell vegetables, you will fail.
For example, companies entering from other industries often have a product-out perspective, but they must also have a market-in perspective.
Even when it comes to vegetables, they won’t sell if you don’t have the mindset of “creating something that will sell.”
Also, it is difficult for a plant factory to become profitable unless it is of a certain scale. This point is also a key to success in business, so please read the article below for more details.
If you want to improve your plant factory site, I will also cooperate.
The plant factory business is attracting attention as a growing market, but managing it is not easy.
There are many plant factory managers who face various challenges such as “inability to increase productivity,” “inability to reduce costs,” and “inability to develop sales channels.”
Please let me assist you in dealing with such problems.
For example, we always accept text-based consultations online, so please feel free to contact us.
When I was on the front lines, I always wished there was someone I could talk to, but I couldn’t find anyone.
There was no such service.
So, I think I can give you real advice that is close to the people in the field.
If used properly, you can expect to solve management issues and further grow your business. If you are worried, why not try online consultation?
Please contact us if you would like a foothold in the plant factory business in Japan.
conclusion
In this article, we have provided a wide range of explanations, from basic knowledge of plant factories to business models and challenges.
A plant factory can be said to be a hope for the future, going beyond the limits of conventional agriculture and contributing to solving food and environmental problems.
The environment surrounding plant factories is evolving day by day, with technological innovations and increased social recognition.
Let’s hope that plant factory will continue to develop as a technology that enriches our eating habits and the future of the earth.
- What kind of technology is used in the plant factory?
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The plant factory uses advanced environmental control technology, including sensors, air conditioning, nutrient solution management systems, artificial light sources, carbon dioxide application equipment, and automation systems. By making full use of these technologies, we create the optimal environment for plant growth.
- What kind of crops can be grown at the plant factory?
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The plant factory mainly grows leafy vegetables. Typical examples include lettuce, spinach, and salad greens. In addition, herbs, fruits such as strawberries, and seedlings are also produced. However, it is difficult to grow tall plants such as tomatoes in artificial light plant factories.
- Isn’t a plant factory considered agriculture?
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A plant factory is a facility that uses environmental control technology to produce plants, which is different from traditional soil-based agriculture. However, in terms of growing plants and producing food, it can be considered a form of agriculture. It is attracting attention as a new way of farming that incorporates the latest technology.
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