Is this the future of food? Japanese plant factories churn out immaculate vegetables 24 hours a day

[Kadie]

Is this the future of food? Japanese plant factories churn out immaculate vegetables 24 hours a day
By David Derbyshire
Last updated at 11:17 PM on 02nd June 2009

They look more like the brightly lit shelves of a chemists shop than the rows of a vegetable garden.

But according to their creators, these perfect looking vegetables could be the future of food.

In a perfectly controlled and totally sterile environment - uncontaminated by dirt, insects or fresh air - Japanese scientists are developing a new way of growing vegetables.

Called plant factories, these anonymous looking warehouses have sprung up across the country and can churn out immaculate looking lettuces and green leaves 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Every part of the plant's environment is controlled - from the lighting and temperature, to the humidity and water. Even the levels of carbon dioxide can be minutely altered.

Rather than the conventional scruffy clothes and dirty fingernails of vegetable growers, the producers wear gloves, surgical masks and sort of dust proof protective suits normally seen in chemical plants.

more...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1190392/Is-future-food-Japanese-plant-factories-churn-immaculate-vegetables-24-hours-day.html




No bugs, no dirt, no mess: At an Ozu Corp. plant factory in Tokyo, vegetables thrive in a completely controlled, insect-free environment that ensures perfect growing conditions. Plant factories are expected to solve some of Japan's agriculture needs in a country where the average farmer is 65 and only 5 percent are under 40.

pic is from sfgate.com

[tabatha]

1. This is preferable to GMO.

I wonder what the nutrition content is.

[DCKit]

6. Who cares? They're pretty.

:sarcasm:
I'm thinking they're adding macro and micro nutrients to the water, but without the benefits of natural soil microorganisms, the bugs and fungi that process nutrients in a beneficial relationship with most plants, I doubt many of those nutrients will be taken up properly by the plants.

Better than GMO, but not natural.

[WeDidIt]

52. If done properly, it can be completely organic

Serious.

You can add mycorrhizal fungus and bacteria to an oprganic preparation of nutrients, including organically obtained micronutrients.

Hydro-organics is catching on big time.

[ThomWV]

69. Reconsider my dear friend: This is the perfect compliment to GMO

As it is not the process, or environment if you want to call it that, must agree with the plant's natural growth pattern, however with GMO the "scientists" have control over both the plant stock and the environment with more manageable result - we will be told.

[ThomWV]

71. It makes all the sense in the world and there is no reason to expect inferior produce

Just because its done artificially is no reason to think that a plant can't be grown to become healthy produce because the plant is grown under optimum conditions.

Think how predictable plants are and the notions that have been applied to mechanized farming as concerns animals seems tame compared to plants.

At any rate look to Spain and Israel to take this next step soon. Its a logical evolutionary step for their agribusiness.

[Ian David]

2. Looks like EPCOT's "The Land" Exhibit. n/t

[leftyclimber]

46. That was my first thought.

I wonder if you can go through it on little boats. :)

[deadmessengers]

3. Wow, that's a stupid idea.

How are they getting the massive energy inputs needed to grow such vegetables? From the photo in the article, it looks to me like there's a solar roof, but also lots of other lighting - meaning that the power comes from the grid. How incredibly wasteful.

[kirby]

5. You are quite the sleuth!

You can divine all that and render a judgment on the net energy efficiency by looking at a single photo?

Even if there was power coming from the 'grid', so what? It might be a more efficient and less polluting source than a farm tractor, who knows. And the 'grid itself' could be solar or wind or hydro.

[deadmessengers]

10. none of which are more efficient than the sun itself.

First of all, you're right - it's just a guess on my part, and the article doesn't address it either way.

However, you mentioned solar, wind, hydro, so I'll talk about that: Consider Newton's second law of thermodynamics here, which can be summed up as "You can't get something for nothing". All of those energy sources you mentioned would require intermediate steps from energy source to final energy use, and the accumulated and unavoidable losses in those steps would make them less efficient than simply allowing plants to get natural sunlight. Think of it this way: they're jumping through all kinds of technological hoops to replicate something that is VERY easy to obtain naturally. One would also have to make windmills, hydro turbines, and photovoltaic cells, which would require their own massive energy input. And yes, farm tractors are generally polluting, and require their own energy inputs for their manufacture, but I'm going to take a guess that this is more so, simply because farmers don't run their tractors from sun up to sun down 7 days a week, which is what this would require. Furthermore, where would the soil nutrients come from? Since natural fertilizers aren't certifiable as being sterile, I'm again going to guess that they're having to use artificial, likely petroleum-based, fertilizers.

There are valid situations where something like this is necessary such as in limited space where there is no natural alternative, but in terms of energy efficiency, I am VERY skeptical.

[ContinentalOp]

31. Uh, there is no soil or fertilizer in hydroponics.

Nutrients are put directly into the water. I don't think those involve petroleum at all though.

"Much of the nitrogen fertilizer produced for conventional agriculture today is manufactured by combining the nitrogen in the air with natural gas, which is mostly methane. This process results in a significant release of carbon into the atmosphere. However, research is now underway to provide nitrogen fertilizer through the use of biogas, from recycled farm waste. This would improve the efficiency of vertical farming and make it more carbon-neutral."
http://www.beamingsun.com/sunpress/2009/03/03/hydroponic-vertical-farming-for-urban-populations.html

[tridim]

38. Plants use nutrients, water and light for photosynthesis..

Photosynthesis makes sugars that the plants use as food.

They don't suck up nutrients from the dirt and store them in any significant amount.

[WeDidIt]

54. You left out an important ingredient of photosynthesis

Air.

Plants must respire.

[tridim]

55. Good advice for those growing crops in a vacuum.

:)

Thanks for the clarification.

[WeDidIt]

58. Ahem

The carbon in the organic molecules (aka "hydrocarbons) produced by photosynthesis comes out of carbon dioxide.

:D

[tridim]

62. Sorry for the snark.

I was agreeing with you, I just left out the CO2 component because it's not generally an additive like NPK and water.

Hydroponics also requires dissolved O2 in the nutrient solution, which can be achieved via a fish tank pump or agitation.

[WeDidIt]

65. In this case, it is an additive

They're controlling CO2 levels in this environment.

That means they are adding it because yields increase substantially when you have slightly elevated CO2 levels.

[MicaelS]

57. Definitely NOT stupid

What is the population density of Japan? 339 person per square kilometer. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Japan♦

What is the amount of arable land in Japan? On the arable land, which is only 11% of Japan's total land area, http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/world/A0858981.html

Put those two together and this is why they are doing something like this. Should they be held hostage to the whims of the international market and dependent on importing much of their food?

[surrealAmerican]

61. Thanks for the statistics.

I was about to post that this makes sense for Japan because of their high population and small amount of farmland. For the US, this is not as good an option. We have plenty of arable land to feed our population.

[ThomWV]

73. Wasteful of power to be sure but that's cheap nuclear power that's making those vegies.

Its not like they are polluting the air with the emissions from a coal plant - as would be the case here. They use clean nuclear power to a large extent and once the price of their plant is sunk its not like our plants where you have to put more fuel in to get more power out. Imagine the utility of using off-peak nuclear power to grow food cleanly. How much better than coal fired power plants we'd be using and even worse, diesel and gas powered farm machinery whereas they can run their system with ozone producing electric motors that can do the movements necessary to farming indoors.

[KittyWampus]

84. nuclear power isn't clean no matter how hard it's proponents try to pass it off.

[Kittycat]

4. Meh - I like dirt.

[konnichi wa]

7. Golly, they've invented hydroponics...

:shrug:

[Statistical]

28. Ford didn't invent the assembly line ....

but he did figure out how to make a business model using it when most cars were assembled by crews on at a time.

Hydroponics is nothing new but large scale hydroponics selling a product for general consumption..... I am not if it has been done successfully.

[Liberal In Texas]

8. Also uncontaminated by FLAVOR.

I'll bet.

[KoKo]

9. Like Cloned Pigs and Chickens bred for big breasts and no flavor

These veggies are devoid of contact with the earth. Pretty but probably missing some vital nutrients that can't be duplicated in that kind of environment...

[Sanity Claws]

11. I also wonder how nutritious the vegetables are

Vegetables pick up trace minerals from the dirt they're grown in. If no dirt, less nutrition, right?

[tridim]

18. Nope, hydroponics provides everything a plant needs to grow.

The flavor is in the genes.

[IDFbunny]

20. Brawndo

It's what plants crave.

[AngryAmish]

48. Use water, like outta the toilet?

[Ignis]

75. Thanks, I LOL'd.

:rofl:

[MadHound]

21. Nope, you can always tell a plant grown hydroponically

You can taste and smell that chemical tang. Nothing says hydroponics like that metallic aftertaste.

Ordinary dirt though, minerals and nutrient as nature intended results in a much fuller, richer taste in everything that comes out of the garden.

[tridim]

25. I completely disagree, but I can't say why.

;)

[ContinentalOp]

32. Yeah, but what can you really tell about the flavor...

if you're just burning the produce ;)

[tridim]

35. Good bud has tons of flavor

I'm kind of a connoisseur, like the wine people. :)

[ContinentalOp]

36. Yeah, it was just a lame attempt at a joke :) -nt-

[JHB]

68. Dissolved trace minerals can be added to the growth medium or water...

If done properly you might even have better trace mineral absorbtion than for soil-grown, especially those in mineral-depleted areas.

I'm nor sure how practical this setup is on earth, but this would be right up the alley for a moonbase or big space station.

[Liberal In Texas]

13. Gotta wonder, my tomatos (for example) grown in my back garden

have a much better flavor and texture than anything from the store. I know, they're fresher, but even after a several days they still taste better.

[AngryAmish]

50. Homemade/farmers market tomatoes are ripe

Grocery store tomatoes (and other produce) are picked before they are ripe usually and ripen during transport.

A ripe fruit/veg has more flavor.

That is why the whole foods et al "organic" produce looks beautiful but still tastes like crap. (Many people think whole foods and other organic stuff tastes better, but that is an artifact of thinking it is better/paying more for it. Blind taste tests prove otherwise.)

[Mariana]

51. Not only are store-bought fruit and vegetables picked unripe

but the varieties that are grown for that purpose have been bred to look pretty and to ship well. Flavor and texture are not as important. As long as people keep buying pretty vegetables and fruit that taste like cardboard, that's what we'll get at the stores.

My backyard tomatoes taste wonderful but they sure wouldn't survive being transported thousands of miles in a truck or a rail car.

[Festivito]

14. Oh, the Japanese WILL have flavor in the equation.

They go for ultra freshness, perfection, and flavor. Lastly they'll go for what we go for.

We, on the other hand, go for price and quantity. Then we might succumb to quality.

Nutritional value lies in the middle for both of us.

[BrotherBuzz]

12. Huell Howser gave me the the nickel tour of a Hydroponic plant in California a year ago

Join popular PBS host Huell Howser as he spends the day in Carpenteria with the Overgaag family and gets a first hand look at this innovative growing technique, at the home of the largest North American Hydroponic lettuce grower. We’ll also learn about Hollandia’s unique “Absolutely fresh because its still alive” packaging.

http://www.calgold.com/green/Default.asp?Series=100&Show=701

[Duer 157099]

19. Yeah, I was gonna say

I've seen very large hydroponics operations in California, this is by no means a Japanese invention, lol!

[Speck Tater]

15. Utterly unsustainable.

Not only is the lighting fueled, at least in part, by fossil fuels, but the nutrient solutions are probably petroleum based as well.

A totally irrational concept. Cool, but irrational. How many calories of fossil fuel energy per calorie of food value, I wonder? It's got to be worse than present commercial agriculture for wasting energy.

[BrotherBuzz]

16. It's proven sustainable in California

• Hydroponic growing techniques that conserve 66-84% of the water that would be used if lettuce were grown in the fields
• A unique clamshell packaging made from 70% recycled PETE drink bottles
• Cardboard cartons made from up to 53% recovered paper and are recyclable after use.
• Energy efficiency that has enabled Hollandia to reduce overall energy consumption by 60% over the last 10 years

http://justpublicity.com/2008/05/05/live-gourmet-launches-new-sustainability-resource-to-promote-conservation-education/

[tridim]

24. petroleum based nutrients? No such thing.

Petroleum is a hydrocarbon, plants use nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and micro nutrients.

Hydroponics can be done 100% organic. I've even seen self sufficient systems that use recycled water and waste.

[ContinentalOp]

26. Conventional agriculture is utterly unsustainable.

The water use, toxic runoff from fertilizers and pesticides, groundwater contamination, habitat destruction, monoculture, the impact of shipping produce all over the world, and the ridiculous amounts of land used, are all reasons why we should be searching for a better solution.

The future of agriculture hopefully lies in vertical farming. http://www.verticalfarm.com/

[IDFbunny]

27. Energy for food

is the most justifiable use of energy I think. Quibbling about the energy cost only starves those that might need this food. The energy cost of commercial farming, when all the hidden inputs are counted may be quite high as well. Sparring soil and habitat are also bonuses.

[Speck Tater]

33. RE: "Quibbling about the energy cost only starves those that might need this food."

Ah, but capitalism does not factor in "need". Only profit matters. This operation sells "premium" lettuce to rich consumers. It does not, and never will supply food to people who need it.

As the economy continues to crash and civilization continues to unravel, these high-cost operations will not be able to survive because the pampered rich customers will no longer be able to afford to pay a premium for factory-grown food.

[IDFbunny]

39. If it feeds people, even the rich ones, it is a worthwhile experiment

Japan doesn't have rich soils and expansive plains like we do but still have a large population to feed. They may not want to depend on foreign sources for food and so need to try unconventional methods. Since food is already very expensive their break even point may be reachable.

[eShirl]

17. I'm thinking Mars colony, or multi-generational space ship.

[EndersDame]

76. I like the wat you think

;)

[Cleita]

22. What about the energy needs for the lights and climate control?

In a way, I like the idea, especially looking at what the snails, gophers and extremely hot days do to my garden. However, if it creates a big need for oil or nuclear to create electricity, I'm not so fond of the idea.

[ContinentalOp]

29. Vertical farms could potentially generate energy.

"Proponents claim that vertical farms could generate power. Methane digesters could be built on site to transform the organic waste generated at the farm into Biogas which is generally composed of 65% methane along with other gasses. This biogas could then be burned to generate electricity that can either be consumed at the farm or added to the grid." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_farming

So with some use of natural light, plus artificial lighting powered by solar and from onsite methane production, I would think you could engineer an indoor farming operation with a vastly smaller environmental impact than a conventional farm.

[bertman]

23. "UNCONTAMINATED" by dirt, insects, or fresh air.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

All these years, Mother Gaia has been "contaminating" our food supply with dirt, insects, and fresh air.

You can't make this shit up.

This must be in preparation for the big "domed cities" Japan is going to need to live in when the poles melt.

Or maybe they'll sell the floating, domed food factories to the billionaires who looted the U.S. Treasury, so they can live out their lives in isolation from the rest of the humans on the planet who want to barbecue them for dinner.

[Orrex]

45. Mother Gaia would kill you in a heartbeat if she had the chance

Besides which, it's pretty clear that "uncontaminated" was meant ironically.

:eyes:

[bertman]

67. Mother Gaia and I have been friends now for over 60 years. I can't believe she'd turn on me

like a Baptist in an abortion clinic. Or a Lutheran church.

[Orrex]

77. Well, it's nothing personal

On balance, you need her more than she needs you, and she's always been an eminently practical gal.

So...

[bertman]

81. "Well, it's nothing personal"

:7

I couldn't agree more, Orrex.

[Orrex]

82. LOL!

:hi:

[BlooInBloo]

30. Cool, but damn that must be expensive.

[ContinentalOp]

34. Not necessarily

"Other advantages include faster growth combined with relative freedom from soil diseases, and very consistent crops, the quality of produce being excellent. There is also a considerable reduction in growing area, weeds are practically non-existent, while standard methods and automatic operations mean less labor, less cost, and no hard manual work."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydroponic#Nutrient_solutions

[riderinthestorm]

37. As an organic farmer, I'm fascinated by stories like this.

Perhaps you know (or not) but I grow several acres of organic produce for a farmstand and an organic restaurant. It's backbreaking work that occurs (frequently! groan) in some truly bad weather (northern Illinois). I see the Japanese plant factory as incredibly interesting. Unless you've grown veggies on a large scale, and truly understand how tremendously hard it is, it's impossible to downplay the magnetic appeal that pic has for me - that woman (man?) in her space suit, in a perfectly climate controlled environment, without bugs!

I'd love to taste it. I too wonder at the energy expenditures and environmental "cost" to produce food like this.

Fascinating.

[comtec]

42. You sound like a reasonable person

can you explain the hate that some posters have for this?
This set up seems logical to me.
you can have your veggies organically grown with no chemicals, and its still not enough.
it would seem to me that this is the only logical way to create organic veggies that on a per-cost-appearance basis could compare with agri-corp foods.

as someone else pointed out this vertical growing would also be great for poorer countries.

Of course being a geek and a engineer this makes perfect sense for space travel as well. you put the hydroponics on the outer edge of a rotating surface to create a minimal gravity that causes the water to "fall" and you have organic, fresh, bug-free veggies.

I try to buy organic whenever it's feasible. I'm financially in a position I can do that for the first time in my life!

Organics are expensive, not as "good" but less chemmey as 'normal' produce, but there seems to be rather lax definitions on what is organic and what isn't.

That said as soon as I find a few local farmers to buy from I'll probably start doing that. I like spuds, and they're common as ..well dirt here :) I also miss proper tomatoes, but i'll have to grow those myself.

anyway, i don't understand what people can have against this system for growing veggies.

help?

[reggie the dog]

40. this is nothing new, folks have been doing this with cannabis

for a couple of decades.

[JVS]

41. In space, yes. On Earth no.

[My Good Babushka]

43. I think it's awesome

and if it can done efficiently with less polluting, that's fantastic. Maybe it could even be done here to get fresh produce to low income,urban communities. I don't know why so many DUers are digging their heels in against the future. You're all like "no way, only the filthiest veggies for me, picked and probably pissed on by exploited immigrants, that's the way I likes 'em."

[AB_Positive]

44. One more reason I love Japan. I gotta emigrate there. :D

Plus, Japanese farms are having a hell of a time due to climate changes affecting the soil - this may become their only way of getting these foodstuffs locally. Yay science~!

[Blue_Tires]

47. wonder how it tastes...

[tridim]

56. It will taste like lettuce without pesticides.

It's stunning how ignorant people are about hydroponics. Not you specifically, but there are plenty on this thread who have no clue how it works.

[backscatter712]

49. Try that in the U.S....

and the DEA will swarm your facility with black-suited stormtroopers, because in their eyes, anyone with that much hydroponics equipment just has to be growing weed. :eyes:

[The2ndWheel]

53. "Every part of the plant's environment is controlled"

Ah, the ultimate goal. Total control. Of the plant, the environment, of life.

[Phoonzang]

59. I'd prefer vat grown meat.

Grown in a sterile environment, no hormones, lower cholesterol...mmmmm...frankenmeat.

[Highway61]

60. Place like this opened in Maine

a while back. Backyard Farms. The tomatoes are AMAZING...and the beauty of it all..they taste great all year long. yum.

http://www.backyardfarms.com/

[Marr]

63. That's the future, right there.

Amazing use of hydroponics. Could change a lot.

Think of how much energy would be saved on shipping alone-- since food production wouldn't necessarily have to be located in traditional farming areas.

[Juche]

66. Less water, less pollution, higher yields, less shipping

Plus renewable energy sources like wind and solar are seeing price deflations, so it'll keep getting cheaper to power something like this with renewable energy.

[Juche]

64. What is the annual yield per acre

I know aquaponics and hydroponics produce more yield per acre per year than conventional agriculture, somewhere between 5-20x more edible vegetables per acre per year.

I can't wait for in vitro meat though. Protein deficiency is a major problem in the developing world.

[ThomWV]

70. From the looks of the stacks they could get an acre out of not too much floor space.

[Fleshdancer]

72. I have come to the conclusion that the Japanese.....

would prefer to do everything while wearing gloves and surgical masks. :rofl:

I've never seen so many germ phobic clean "freaks" in one place as I did in Japan. The police and taxi drivers always wear gloves and the public made surgical masks cool long before the swine flu arrived. I thought it was odd at first, but I spent two years there and I didn't get sick once which is pretty incredible.

[Taverner]

74. Hydroponics - been around for a while

It is THE method to grow things indoors

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

78. Looks like industrial-size Aerogardens

I have an Aerogarden and I've grown a variety of herbs and, currently, cherry tomatoes. Herbs and tomatoes taste great; they are grown hydroponically and the only additives are nutrient tablets added every two weeks.

The taste is fabulous; the aroma is magnificent.

[MicaelS]

83. Ooooh cherry tomatoes, love 'em

So how long does it take you to grow a crop of them?

[eppur_se_muova]

79. Works great for MUSHROOMS, they don't need light!

But unbelievably energy-inefficient for green plants.

Japan already has some amazing mushroom production capabilities, they need to focus on those. And give Paul Stammets a call if they need fresh ideas.

[tomreedtoon]

80. Soylent Green is JAPANESE PEOPLE!!!

Sure, that stuff they're eating is organically grown plants. Shuuuuuure.