Wasabi Cultivation in a Plant Factory! A Clear Explanation of Why It’s Gaining Attention

Hello everyone! I’m Shohei.

The charm of wasabi lies in its unique, pungent flavor that clears your nose, right? The refreshing sensation you get the moment you taste wasabi is unparalleled.

Surprisingly, wasabi goes well with a variety of dishes, including Japanese, Western, and Asian cuisines.

For example, serving wasabi with steak helps to reduce the richness of the meat, making it easier to eat. It’s essential for sashimi, of course, but it’s also recommended to add wasabi dressing to your salads.

“Isn’t wasabi only grown in those pristine mountain areas with clean water? Can it really be grown in a plant factory?”

Are you thinking that?

It’s true that wasabi prefers cool climates and clean water, making it difficult to find suitable locations for open-field cultivation, and year-round stable production is challenging.

However, technological advancements are challenging such conventional wisdom.

Plant factory-based wasabi cultivation has been garnering attention in recent years.

“I thought plant factories were for lettuce…”

You might have thought that.

In reality, plant factories are proving their effectiveness in cultivating a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and even spices like wasabi.

This article will provide a clear explanation of the knowledge you need to know when starting wasabi cultivation in a plant factory, even for beginners.

By the way, the reasons why leafy vegetables are commonly grown in plant factories are also discussed in the following article. Check it out.

Why “Plant Factory × Wasabi Cultivation” Now?

Wasabi is a highly popular spice in Japan and abroad, indispensable for Japanese cuisine.

However, in recent years, there has been a serious decline in production due to climate change, as well as a decrease in suitable cultivation areas.

What is being looked upon with hope is the plant factory, which enables stable production regardless of weather conditions.

The benefits of growing wasabi in a plant factory are immeasurable.

• Year-round Stable Production: Harvesting can be expected year-round without being affected by temperature or weather.
• Improved Quality: By strictly controlling temperature, humidity, nutrient solution, etc., you can cultivate wasabi with strong pungency and rich flavor.
• Labor Savings: By introducing automation systems, it can lead to the elimination of heavy labor and labor shortages.
• Safety and Security: By suppressing the use of pesticides and cultivating in a hygienic environment, safe and high-quality wasabi can be provided.
• Branding: Adding the value of “Plant Factory Production” can lead to differentiation and higher-priced sales.

In other words, even “wasabi,” which has limited cultivation locations, can be cultivated in a plant factory, where environmental control is possible.

Key Points to Consider When Cultivating Wasabi in a Plant Factory

So, what should you pay attention to when actually cultivating wasabi in a plant factory?

Here, we introduce three particularly important points.

1. Create a Suitable Growth Environment for Wasabi

Wasabi prefers cool, humid environments. In a plant factory, it is necessary to control the environment with the following points in mind:

• Temperature Control: The optimum growth temperature for wasabi is said to be 15-20°C. Temperature adjustments should be made using cooling equipment, etc., to maintain this range.
• Humidity Control: Wasabi prefers high humidity. Maintain a humidity level of around 70%.
• Light Environment Control: Wasabi dislikes strong light. If using artificial light sources such as LEDs, you need to adjust the light intensity and irradiation time.

2. Acquire Hydroponic Techniques

Hydroponic cultivation, where no soil is used, is the mainstream method for growing wasabi in plant factories.

• Nutrient Solution Management: Cultivate by circulating a nutrient solution containing nutrients necessary for wasabi growth. It is important to regularly measure and adjust the concentration and pH (degree of acidity/alkalinity) of the nutrient solution.
• Water Quality Management: Wasabi is sensitive to changes in water quality. It is necessary to properly manage water temperature and dissolved oxygen levels.

3. Consider Equipment Investment and Running Costs

Introducing a plant factory involves initial costs and running costs. Well, this is the same even without wasabi.

• Initial Costs: Significant costs are required for facility construction, cultivation equipment, environmental control equipment, etc.
• Running Costs: Costs such as electricity charges, water charges, material costs, and labor costs occur continuously.

The Future of Plant Factory × Wasabi Cultivation

Plant factory technology is constantly evolving. Utilizing the latest technologies will enable more efficient and high-quality production.

However, there are also cost challenges associated with plant factories. The initial investment is large, and running costs such as electricity and heating costs are high.

However, there is ample room for cost reduction through large-scale efficiency, the use of renewable energy, etc.

Improvement in wasabi’s added value can also be expected to improve profitability.

Know-how is paramount to increasing profitability in plant factories. Production efficiency can be increased by enhancing on-site capabilities.

This site provides know-how specifically focused on profitability. Please follow the link below if you are interested.

Summary

This article has explained the basic knowledge you need to know when starting wasabi cultivation in a plant factory, as well as the points for success.

The combination of wasabi cultivation and plant factories holds great potential.

By replicating difficult cultivation conditions in an artificial environment, year-round stable production and high quality can be achieved.

While there are cost challenges, there is still room for overcoming them through future technological innovation and management efforts.

Is wasabi cultivation in a plant factory profitable?

Initial investment and running costs are high, but improvement in profitability can be expected through increased yield from year-round stable production and higher added value through high quality. There is also room for cost reduction through expansion and technological innovation. There is also the potential to open new markets, so in the long term, it seems likely to be quite profitable.

Can river water be used for wasabi cultivation in a plant factory?

Plant factories use nutrient solution cultivation techniques, so they do not use river water directly. However, it is possible to use river water after purification as the raw water for nutrient solutions. The key is to properly manage the temperature and composition of the nutrient solution to promote healthy growth of wasabi.

Can well water be used for wasabi cultivation?

Clean water is essential for nutrient solution cultivation in plant factories. In general, well water is suitable as raw water for nutrient solutions because it has stable water quality. However, it is necessary to check the hardness and presence of contaminants beforehand and, if necessary, perform purification treatment.