A Japanese company uses indoor vegetable growing technology, producing more than 80 tons of clean vegetables per year.
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Japanese company Panasonic started growing green vegetables in a warehouse in Singapore in 2014 to sell to local grocery stores and restaurants, according to Business Insider. |
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Back then, the 2,500-square-foot farm produced just 3.6 tons of vegetables a year. Now, the farm’s area and output have quadrupled, said Alfred Tham, assistant manager of Panasonic’s Agricultural Business Division. |
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| All Panasonic greens are grown indoors year-round, using LED lights instead of sunlight. Grow racks are stacked all the way to the ceiling to produce more yield in limited space. |
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| The farm produces 81 tonnes of greens a year, accounting for 0.015% of the total vegetables grown in Singapore. Panasonic plans to increase this figure to 5%. |
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| Currently, the warehouse grows 40 varieties of vegetables, including radish sprouts, white radish sprouts, arugula, bok choy, rainbow chard, and romaine lettuce. In March 2017, the farm will start growing another 30 varieties. |
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| To grow the vegetables, Panasonic workers sow seeds on growing racks. Unlike many other vertical farms, Panasonic’s farm grows vegetables on the ground. |
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| All the vegetables are grown under LED lights instead of sunlight. The lights are supplied by a local company and use less energy than regular bulbs. |
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| Constantly lit LED lights promote rapid plant growth. Farmers also control the conditions inside the warehouse, including oxygen levels, pH levels and temperature. |
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Once the seeds begin to germinate, farmers transfer the plants to small pots. Small sprinklers deliver nutrient-rich water to the plants. |
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“We foresee a lot of potential for this business given the global shortage of agricultural land, growing population, climate change, and the need for a stable and high-quality food supply,” Tham said.
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According to Discovery
