The Way Forward
ICT + Agriculture
"Domed" Indoor Farms (Iwate)
Japan is at the forefront of innovative agricultural development efforts, incorporating state-of-the-art technology to make farming more sustainable and efficient. One successful example of this approach is a "domed" soil-free indoor farming facility that harnesses solar energy and water to grow lettuce. The facility was built on 1.8ha of land that was devastated by the March 2011 tsunami and transformed into a sustainable agriculture project with eight 5-by-30-meter domed indoor farms that utilize a number of innovative energy efficient features to reduce costs and improve production.
Developed in Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture through a joint venture between Granpa Co. Ltd and Tobishima Corporation, this public-private-partnership project was made possible with the support of a JPY300 million subsidy from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in January 2012. The facility was established just six months later in July 2012, when it immediately began shipping its produce. Each dome produces about 450 heads of lettuce per day which is supplied to supermarkets, major sales retailers and sandwich chains.
In addition to its solar power capabilities, the facility's innovative features also include an air conditioning system that uses an exhaust opening in the ceiling to improve energy efficiency during the summer and winter months. The facility also incorporates a unique layered seedling planting design, which maximizes the efficiency of space resulting in an increase in production capacity and reduced labor and energy costs.
Since lettuce produced at the facility is natural and guaranteed to be free from any forms of pollution, local governments regard it as a promising new agricultural model that can appeal to customers while contributing to local revitalization.
The project has already contributed to the local economy with the creation of about 20 new jobs, in an area where livelihoods were threatened after the disaster, as well as establishing a sustainable business model through partnerships with major retailers and chains.
Due to the project's success in Iwate Prefecture, the same model has already been adopted in Minamisoma in Fukushima Prefecture. Granpa Co. also has plans to expand this "born in Japan" business overseas with an agreement to build two indoor domes in China. They hope that the success of domed indoor farms will serve as an important example of how energy efficiency technologies can make agriculture more sustainable and to showcase Japan's innovations to the international community.
Innovative Luxury Strawberry Farms (Miyagi)
After returning to his birthplace of Yamamoto, Miyagi, after the March 2011 disaster wiped out nearly all of its strawberry farm greenhouses, IT specialist Hikoki Iwasa saw an opportunity to combine his technology expertise with his passion for reviving the agricultural industry of his hometown. By establishing the General Reconstruction Association in July 2011, Iwasa was able to rebuild the strawberry industry using advanced IT systems, and create something new and innovative from areas affected by the disaster.
His business uses technology to optimize the climate for growing strawberries by automating windows and sprinkler systems. By hiring local strawberry farmers who lost their jobs as a result of the tsunami, he sought to harness their agricultural expertise to enhance product quality and secure this knowledge digitally for future generations.
The business led to the stabilization of the strawberry industry in Yamamoto, while Iwasa's success has also helped to build a high-quality luxury brand image. The unit price has more than tripled, from about ¥980 per kilogram before the tsunami to ¥3,000 per kilogram, with its luxury "migaki-ichigo" strawberries selling for ¥1,000 per piece. This added value may eventually raise the overall price of all Yamamoto strawberries, spurring revitalization of the broader regional economy.
Minamisoma's "Solar Agripark" (Fukushima)
Expected to open in Spring 2013, the Minamisoma "Solar Agripark" combines a 500KW solar power facility with indoor plant farms, establishing it as a pioneer in renewable energy and a future model of agriculture for areas affected by the March 2011 disaster. Positioned as a symbol of progress for Minamisoma, its vision is to overcome the stigma surrounding the disaster area by revitalizing agriculture, industry and tourism, while also creating new jobs to revitalize Minamaisoma and the surrounding region.
A new children's park will be created, where youth affected by the disaster can receive hands-on learning experience featuring renewable energy and advanced agriculture, helping to educate the future leaders of the region on the importance of sustainability and energy efficiency. It is expected to become an exciting destination for those traveling to the prefecture and a place where influencers can exchange ideas on the future of the region.
This project is supported by a JPY115 million investment from Toshiba and subsidies from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries totaling JPY90 million. Energy generated from the solar facility will be used to power the indoor farms, while surplus energy will be sold back to the grid through the feed-in-tariff system.