Vertical Farm Online Seminar
Lecturer
Japan Vertical Farm Co., Ltd.
Representative Director: Yushihisa Ike
After gaining practical experience in small-, medium-, and large-scale plant factories at a foreign-affiliated consulting firm and a plant factory operating company as a First-Class Registered Architect, he founded the company.
This seminar provides a systematic overview of the current state of plant factories, including differentiation strategies and practical case studies required for achieving profitability. Participants will also gain insights into the factors affecting vegetable quality, such as seasonal conditions, cultivation methods, and regional differences, as well as the relationship between organic vegetables and plant-factory-grown produce. In addition, the seminar explains the high quality of Japanese organic vegetables and the impact of global warming in an easy-to-understand manner. The program further covers the advantages and disadvantages of open-field farming, greenhouse cultivation, and plant factories, along with fundamental technologies such as environmental control, hydroponic nutrient systems, automation, image processing, and AI applications. Domestic and international market trends will also be discussed. The seminar is designed with a practical focus, centered on knowledge directly applicable to plant factory operations and business development.
The lecturer has been involved in technology development and operations in the plant factory industry for approximately 17 years since its early stages, and will share practical expertise and insights gained through hands-on experience in the field.
Index
・Comparison of the quality of current plant-factory-grown vegetables and open-field vegetables, and analysis of existing challenges
・Product development from a consumer perspective (high antioxidant levels × low nitrate content)
・Nitrate nitrogen levels in hydroponic cultivation and key considerations (examples ranging from approximately 6,000–9,000 ppm or higher)
・Evaluation standards for nitrate nitrogen and the concept of “safe vegetables” (including EU standards)
・Fundamentals of cultivation control based on plant physiology
・Characteristics and challenges of DFT and NFT cultivation systems
・The current state and limitations of AI and automation technologies, and the design of optimal operational systems
・Comparison between horizontal and vertical cultivation systems and their appropriate applications
・Revenue structures in the plant factory business and the importance of differentiation strategies
・Cost structures and case studies on the utilization of subsidies and grants
・Agriculture-welfare collaboration (employment support services Type A and B) and applications in education (natural sciences, food education, and emotional development)
・Business potential of leafy vegetables, fruit vegetables (such as strawberries and melons), root vegetables, grains, and medicinal herbs
・Trends in domestic and international markets
・The role of plant factories in food security and Japan’s future direction and contribution to the global community
01
Plant Factory “Essential” Environmental Conditions
What are the essential environmental conditions for vegetables? “Light”, “Nutrients”, “Temperature”, “Humidity”, “Water Temperature”, “CO2”, etc.
Light
LED Development & Cultivation Verification
By combining LEDs with various wavelengths, we create the environmental conditions required for
Click the image to enlarge.
02
養分
栄養素
02
Organic Vegetables ≒ Factory-Grown Vegetablesspan ？
When organic matter is mixed into soil, microbial activity eventually breaks it down into stable inorganic compounds under current atmospheric conditions.
Plants absorb those inorganic compounds through their roots and, through photosynthesis, convert them back into organic matter.
The inorganic compounds generated by the decomposition of organic matter in soil through microbial activity are the same components as the inorganic compounds contained in chemical fertilizers.
Therefore,
from the perspective of plant growth, hydroponic cultivation using chemical fertilizers dissolved in water and soil cultivation (including organic farming) are based on the same principle.
[Cited from the Kyoto Prefectural University Next-Generation Plant Factory Research Project Report]
03
What Are Organic Vegetables? The Impact of Global Warming
Advantages of Organic Farming
As plants grow, they absorb nutrients that are gradually decomposed by microorganisms in the soil.
In recent years, due to global warming, a decline in the quality of vegetables grown in Japan’s highland regions has been observed.
The decomposition rate of organic fertilizers by microorganisms depends on temperature.
It is believed that this causes fertilizer components to be generated in a short period of time.
IIn natural environments, however, controlling microorganisms is realistically very difficult.
For example, Rome, Italy — where organic farming is widespread — is located at roughly the same latitude as Hakodate, Japan. In other words, it is important to recognize that much of the world’s organic farming is practiced in climates similar to Hokkaido in Japan.
[Cited from the Kyoto Prefectural University Next-Generation Plant Factory Research Project Report]
04
What Defines Vegetable Quality? Example: Antioxidant Components
Values vary not only by season, but also depending on the cultivation region and cultivation method.
[Nutritional Value Graph of Open-Field Vegetables]
01
小・中規模（日産100~3000株）の運営ノウハウ
➡＜想定業界＞空き倉庫、空き工場、不動産
02
レタスだけにとどまらず重量当たりの価値の高い食材の栽培ノウハウ
（数十種程度）
➡細菌付着が少ないので、レタスで露地栽培の2倍程度日持ちが良い
03
ハードとソフトのパッケージ化により多品種の植物工場可能
➡栽培ラインごとのモジュール化
＜想定業界＞建設、不動産
BASIC Package
基本パッケージ
基本パッケージ（高さ4ｍ、7段）の概算目安
01
日産100株（約15坪）
1,200
万円
メリット
設備投資が小さい
小さな敷地面積で開始できる
デメリット
規模の経済が働きにくく利益が出にくい
02
日産1,000株（約100坪）
8,000
万円
メリット
多品種マルチラインにより、生産品の組み合わせが可能
デメリット
組み合わせの運営ノウハウが必要
03
日産3,000株（約300坪）
2.2
億円
メリット
生産品の低コスト化が可能
デメリット
設備投資が大きい
販売量の確保
上記は価格目安です。
お客様のご要望の大きさにより、当社は、どの規模でも対応できます。
特に、他社が苦手な、小・中規模の設営を得意としており、プラントパッケージ対応により、設置・運営が可能です。
レイアウト例（3000株中工場規模 面積：約300坪 高さ：約4ｍ：7段 ）
商品特徴
人工光型植物工場
太陽光、人工光、太陽光＋人工光の3種類あるが、当社は人工光植物工場を専門とする
メリット
01
安全・無農薬、土も虫もつかずに清潔
➡洗わずに食べられるので、レストラン・食品加工・弁当業界に最適
02
新鮮で日持ちが良い
➡細菌付着が少ないので、レタスで露地栽培の2倍程度日持ちが良い
03
一年中、価格が安定している
➡計画的・安定的に周年栽培が可能
04
やわらかい食感とクセのない味
➡レタスで30日程度の短期間栽培
05
都市部の小規模面積で栽培可能
➡多段式のため、レタスの場合土地生産性は露地栽培の100倍以上が可能
06
働きやすい環境
➡年間通して室温20~25℃、湿度70~80%で、高齢者・女性でも体の負担が少ない
07
少人数運営が可能
➡責任者1人とパート4名で日産1000株工場の運営可能、障がい者雇用も可能
デメリットと当社の対応
01
初期投資が高い
➡当社は、工場レイアウト設計のみを行い、栽培プランター・パネルは専用金型を所有。多段棚は汎用品。LEDは自社基盤・電源設計し、中国OEM生産によりコストを削減している。
02
電気コストが高い
➡LEDにより電気コストは大幅に下落している上に、運営ノウハウにより、他社比で10%以上コスト削減できる。
03
光源の有効利用が確立していない
➡当社は、育成時期に合わせた光源ノウハウを確立している。
04
売上の確保（生産量と販売量のバランス）
➡必要数に合わせた規模の工場規模設計ができる。
05
栄養価が低い
➡抗酸化値（ORAC値）を始め高い栄養価を実現
植物工場と教育 ： 科学的な見方・考え方の基礎を養う
見るもの全てが新しい！「やってみたい！」がこだまする 発見！驚き！達成感！楽しさ！に満ちた未来創造型の教育
教育に植物工場を導入するメリット
生活科、総合的学習の時間で取り組まれている従来の栽培・農業体験活動で聞かれる以下の問題点。
01
種まきから収穫まで時間がかかる
02
途中で子どもの興味、関心が途絶えてしまう
03
教職員の負担が大きい
04
収穫した後の、次への展開が難しい
植物工場では、種まきから収穫まで約４０日。
野菜が短期間で成長するため、子どもの観察意欲が途切れることなく、収穫まで集中して取り組むことができます。
種まき、植え付け、収穫、どの工程においても、従来にはない目新しい作業があり、子どもの 「やりたい！」気持ちをかきたてます。
理科の観点からは、光（LED：質と量）、水、イオン（植物が成長するために必要なイオン）、空気の 『自然科学』を実体験することができます。
社会の観点からは、日本の農業を取り巻く社会、ひいては世界の食糧事情などを知る糸口をつかみます。
また、食糧の工業化の必要性を学ぶ機会となります。
食育の観点からは、手軽に多種類の植物の同時栽培が可能なため、品種ごとの微妙な味比べを体験することで
味覚の発達訓練の一助に、また、高栄養価な工場野菜を通じて、栄養素について考えるきっかけになります。
恵葉＆菜プラントの特長
01
小・中規模（日産100~3000株）の運営ノウハウ
➡＜想定業界＞空き倉庫、空き工場、不動産
02
レタスだけにとどまらず重量当たりの価値の高い食材の栽培ノウハウ
（数十種程度）
➡細菌付着が少ないので、レタスで露地栽培の2倍程度日持ちが良い
03
ハードとソフトのパッケージ化により多品種の植物工場可能
➡栽培ラインごとのモジュール化
＜想定業界＞建設、不動産
05
Advantages and Disadvantages of Open-Field Agriculture / Greenhouses / Vertical Farm
Characteristics of Open-Field Agriculture, Sunlight-Utilizing Systems, and Fully Artificial-Light Systems
Open-Field Agriculture
• Extensive experience is required to manage diseases, insects, climate conditions, weeds, and fertilization.
• Under Japan’s hot and humid climate conditions, the use of agricultural chemicals (fungicides and insecticides) is unavoidable.
Priority is often given to developing disease-resistant varieties.
• The quality of cultivated and harvested crops is highly susceptible to weather conditions.
• Maintaining consistent vegetable quality is extremely difficult.
• Risk of contamination by soil-borne pathogens.
Vertical Farm
• Work processes and procedures are clearly defined.
Seeding → Seedling cultivation → Harvesting → Packaging → Washing
• Stable quality control of vegetables.Vegetable quality is determined by the cultivation equipment and cultivation methods.Worker skill level has little impact on quality.
• Plant factories provide a clean and comfortable working environment
(maintained year-round at approximately 20–25°C with around 50% humidity).
Suitable workplaces for women, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities.
• Initial investment is required.
Open-Field Cultivation
Light Source:
Sunlight
Climate Influence:
Affected
Soil Influence:
Affected
Agricultural Skills:
Extensive experience required
Pest/Disease Risk:
High
Cost
Low
Environmental Control:
Difficult
Main Crops:
All crop types
Land Productivity:
-
Water Use Efficiency:
-
Electricity Use Efficiency:
High
Open-Field Cultivation Sunlight-Utilizing Greenhouse Type
Light Source:
Sunlight (+ supplemental lighting)
Climate Influence:
Slightly affected
Soil Influence:
No influence
Agricultural Skills:
Especially requires experience in pest control
Pest/Disease Risk:
Medium
Cost
Medium
Environmental Control:
Depends on external environment
Main Crops:
Fruiting vegetables such as tomatoes, leafy vegetables
Land Productivity:
Medium
Water Use Efficiency:
High
Electricity Use Efficiency:
High
Fully Artificial-Light Type: Vertical Farm
Light Source:
rtificial light (LED, etc.)
Climate Influence:
No influence
Soil Influence:
No influence
Agricultural Skills:
Advanced farming skills not required
Pest/Disease Risk:
Low
Cost
High
Environmental Control:
Easy
Main Crops:
Mainly leafy vegetables
Land Productivity:
High
Water Use Efficiency:
High
Electricity Use Efficiency:
-