The appeal of wasabi is, without a doubt, its unique spiciness that rushes through your nose. That refreshing sensation is simply indescribable. I absolutely love it.
Surprisingly, it goes well with a variety of dishes, not just Japanese cuisine, but also Western and Asian dishes.
For example, when you add wasabi to steak, the fattiness of the meat is lessened, making it easier to eat. It’s of course essential for sashimi, but I also recommend it for salads.
Today’s theme is “plant factory x wasabi.”
“Wasabi only grows in the clean, remote mountains, right?” “Can it really be done in a plant factory?”
Isn’t that what you’re thinking?
Indeed, wasabi prefers cool climates and pure water. Open-field cultivation is limited to certain locations, and stable year-round production is difficult.
However, the evolution of technology is trying to overturn such conventional wisdom.
In recent years, wasabi cultivation utilizing plant factories has been attracting attention.
“Plant factory? Isn’t that just for lettuce?” Certainly, that’s the image some people have.
In fact, plant factories are also gaining attention for the cultivation of spices like wasabi.
In this article, I will explain the knowledge you should know when starting wasabi cultivation in a plant factory.
By the way, currently, leafy vegetables are the most common cultivated crops in plant factories. The reason for this is also written in the following article. Please read it together.
Wasabi is a popular spice in Japan and abroad, indispensable for Japanese cuisine.
However, in recent years, the impact of climate change has led to a decline in production and a decrease in suitable cultivation areas, which are becoming serious problems. In the 15 years from 2005 to 2020, production has decreased by a staggering 60%.
If this continues, wasabi will really disappear. We seriously need to do something…
That’s why the existence of plant factories, which enable stable production regardless of the weather, is expected.
The merits of “plant factory x wasabi” are immeasurable.
Stable Year-Round Production: Stable harvesting can be expected throughout the year, regardless of temperature or weather.
High Quality: By strictly controlling temperature, humidity, and nutrient solution, you can cultivate wasabi with a strong spiciness and rich flavor.
Labor Saving: Introducing automation systems can lead to the elimination of heavy labor and labor shortages.
Safety and Security: By suppressing the amount of pesticides used and cultivating in a hygienic environment, you can provide safe and high-quality wasabi.
Branding: By adding the added value of “plant factory produced,” you can differentiate yourself and expect to sell at a higher price range.
In other words, “wasabi,” which is decreasing in cultivable areas, can be cultivated in a plant factory where environmental control is possible.
“Plant factory x wasabi” is surprisingly compatible.
If You Choose Wasabi in a Plant Factory, Here’s the Point
So, what points should you pay attention to when actually cultivating wasabi in a plant factory?
Here are three particularly important points.
1. Prepare the Growing Environment for Wasabi
Wasabi prefers a cool and humid environment. In a plant factory, it is necessary to control the environment with the following points in mind.
Temperature Control: The optimum growing temperature for wasabi is said to be 15-20°C. Adjust the temperature using air conditioning equipment to maintain this range.
Humidity Control: Wasabi prefers a highly humid environment. Maintain a humidity of around 70%.
Light Environment Control: Wasabi dislikes strong light. If using LEDs, it is necessary to adjust the amount of light and the irradiation time. Rather, it is advantageous because it does not cost much in electricity.
2. Acquire Hydroponic Cultivation Technology
Wasabi cultivation in plant factories mainly uses hydroponics, which does not use soil.
Nutrient Solution Management: Cultivation is carried out by circulating a nutrient solution in which the nutrients necessary for wasabi growth are dissolved. 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
The introduction of a plant factory requires initial costs and running costs. Well, this is obvious, and it’s the same even if it’s not wasabi.
Initial Costs: A large amount of money is required for facility construction costs, cultivation equipment costs, and environmental control equipment costs.
Running Costs: Costs are incurred continuously, such as electricity bills, water bills, material costs, and labor costs.
Plant Factory x Wasabi Has Potential
Plant factory technology is evolving day by day. By utilizing the latest technology, more efficient and higher quality production will be possible.
However, plant factories also have issues in terms of profitability. Not only initial investment but also running costs are high.
In such a situation, the industry is demanding cultivated crops with even higher added value. It was a story that wasabi also has that potential.
Oh, it seems like leafy vegetables are not good, but that is not the case at all.
In my opinion, it is possible to increase profitability with existing leafy vegetable factories, depending on the ingenuity. To increase profitability in a plant factory, upgrading the skills of on-site staff is the most important thing.
Our site provides know-how specializing in profitability. It is content that I have spent time refining based on my experience. Please see below.
This article explained the points you should know when starting wasabi cultivation in a plant factory.
The combination of wasabi cultivation and plant factories has great potential.
If production continues to decline, plant factory-produced wasabi may attract even more attention.
A suitable cultivation environment cannot be found… Wasabi, which was thought to be such, can achieve stable year-round production and high quality thanks to the artificial environment of the plant factory.
There are cost issues, but there is room for overcoming them with future technological innovation and management efforts.
Is wasabi cultivation in a plant factory profitable?
Certainly, the initial investment and running costs are quite high. However, if you succeed in improving yield through stable year-round production and achieving higher quality, you can expect to improve profitability. There will also be room for cost reduction through scale expansion and technological innovation. With the supply volume decreasing, there is also the potential for developing new markets, and in the long term, it may be sufficiently profitable.
Can river water be used for wasabi cultivation in a plant factory?
In a plant factory, hydroponics technology is used, so river water is not used directly. However, it is possible to purify river water and use it as raw water for the nutrient solution.
What is important is to properly manage the temperature and composition of the nutrient solution and promote the healthy growth of wasabi.
Can well water be used for wasabi cultivation?
Clean water is essential for hydroponics in a plant factory. In general, well water has stable water quality, so it is suitable as raw water for nutrient solution. However, it is necessary to check the hardness and the presence of pollutants in advance, and perform purification treatment as necessary.
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