Are sunlight and soil essential for agriculture? Ali Rahmat Hiroshi Ito Pengfei Zhang

Contents 1. Introduction 2. Plant factory（植物工場） and traditional agriculture comparison 3. Plant factory development 4. Conclusion

Introduction Contradiction Increasing Food demand https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=sunlight&rlz=1C1OPRB_enJP555JP565&espv=2&biw=1422&bih=972&site=webhp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Gi2bVZWCLobsmAXVtICYCw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=0.9#tbm=isch&q=damend+food&imgrc=1C0_1pTMU8At9M%3A Increasing Food demand Arable land Decreasing Plant factory New cultivation Technique Contradiction https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=sunlight&rlz=1C1OPRB_enJP555JP565&espv=2&biw=1422&bih=972&site=webhp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Gi2bVZWCLobsmAXVtICYCw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=0.9#tbm=isch&q=damend+food&imgrc=1C0_1pTMU8At9M%3A

Plant factory（植物工場） Plant factory is a closed growing system which enables a farmer (agrotechnician) to achieve constant production of vegetables all year around by artificially controlling the cultivation environment (e.g., light, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, and culture solution). https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=sunlight&rlz=1C1OPRB_enJP555JP565&espv=2&biw=1422&bih=972&site=webhp&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=Gi2bVZWCLobsmAXVtICYCw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=0.9#tbm=isch&q=plant+factory&imgrc=_

Plant factory types Solar light（太陽光利用型） Artificial lighting with solar light（太陽光併用型） Artificial lighting（完全制御型） http://japan.nlambassade.org/binaries/content/assets/postenweb/j/japan/embassy-of-the-kingdom-of-the-netherlands-in-tokyo/import/lnv/horticulture-trade-mission-2013/6.-presentation-dr-maruo-en.pdf

What plants growth need http://edtech2.boisestate.edu/ashleyleneway/506/plantessentials.html

Functions of soil for plant It fix plant to prevent fall down. It store nutrients（養分） and water for plant growth. It reduce harmful material harm to root. It protects the root from temperature change. https://www.bozo.coop/co-op-food-blog/natural-allies-healthy-soil-and-healthy-plants

Functions of sunlight for plant It performs photosynthesis（光合成） and make carbohydrates（炭水化物） from CO2 and H2O . It impacts morphogenesis（形態） of plant. https://www.google.co.jp/search?q=function+of+soil+in+agriculture&rlz=1C2OPRB_enJP555JP555&biw=1422&bih=1025&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=aQWbVZmIJYH3mQW-4KugCw&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=0.9#tbm=isch&q=sunlight+for+plant&imgrc=_

What replace soil in plant factory Fix plant Soil Hydroponic cultivation （養液栽培） Growth plant using nutrient solution without soil. Hydroponic Provide water, nutrient Prevent disease and Temp. change

What replace sunlight in plant factory

●Cost Traditional agriculture and Plant factory Vinyl greenhouse (B) A/B Installation costs(yen/1000 𝐦 𝟐 ) 310 million 18million 17 Utility 18.6 million 0.4 million 47 Cost of plant factory is expensive!! http://www.s.affrc.go.jp/docs/report/report14/no14_p5.htm

Traditional agriculture Management Plant factory Traditional agriculture Temperature can control can’t control Humidity Light Farm field anywhere limited Pest no risk high risk Nutrient control difficult Management of plant factory is easier!!

Light □plant factory □traditional agriculture It is not affected by natural environment. Can control light efficiently (24 hours uniform, no shade) □traditional agriculture It is affected by natural environment. Can not control light. http://www.jjfarming.org/ http://soil-passion.co.jp/original.html

Nutrient □plant factory □traditional agriculture It is possible to control the fertilizer. Less nutrients waste. http://taiyo-elc.com/product/010/ □traditional agriculture It is difficult to control the fertilizer. Nutrients is loss by leaching and absorption. http://d.hatena.ne.jp/locust0138/

Quality & Safety (Lettuce) High quality mg/100g μg/100g mg/100g ×10³/g Safety http://www.e-hanafusa.jp/SHOP/121668/list.html

Production cost (a lettuce) Price in supermarket (a lettuce) Production (Lettuce) Production cost (a lettuce) Plant factory : 200 yen traditional agriculture : 50 yen Price in supermarket (a lettuce) Plant factory : 300 yen traditional agriculture : 100 yen http://www.academy.nougaku.jp/annual%20report/kaiho21/2_rondan.pdf http://blog.goo.ne.jp/morinoizumi33/e/d6a18da59121cf2ce1ca80de2dff3ef3 ○Cultivation schedule(warm area) traditional cultivation

Plant factory development It is estimated the number of plant factory in commercial production exceeded 120 in December 2012, and this number is predicted to increase further in 2013 (Kozai, 2013). http://www.tdb.co.jp/tosan/syosai/4071.html Number of plant factory in Japan (March 2012) https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ecb/53/2/53_47/_pdf By 2011, more than 20 plant factories spread over 10 provinces and municipalities in China have included 20 varieties of vegetables. Chinese plant factory design http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2012-08/18/content_15685792.htm

Singapore plant factory Company introduce small and simple plant　Factory to invite Singapore citizen to planting plant. http://www.ecocityhydroponics.com/promotion.html

Spread Co. Ltd “Kameoka Plant” Established : July 2007 Site size : 4,779.954 m2 Building size : 2,869.96 m2 Building height : 15.7 m Growing area : 25200.21m2 Heads : 7.7 million per year Yield : 770 tons per year Produce type : Lettuce Power source : Electrical power Products Inside plant factory Plant factory http://www.spread.co.jp/en/company/

Some kinds of plant factory A: Household plant factory B：Small plant factory Household plant factory (Panasonic Corp.) installed with LED, built-in camera, irrigation control unit, etc., connected with internet. Size: 60 cm wide, 80 cm high and 35 cm deep. Electricity consumption: ca. 100 W. Small plant factory at the lobby of Sakakibara Memorial Hospital, Fuchu city, Tokyo. It is planned that vegetables be grown by the clients and served to the hospitalized clients. Small plant factory for eye-catching display at LalaPort shopping center in Kashiwa city, Chiba, Japan. C:Small plant factory for eye-catching http://www.genopomii.unina.it/genohort/files/ch5302%208-11.pdf

Some kinds of plant factory Simple plant factory on the wall of a conference room Simple plant factory in reception room Daiwa plant factory for small garden Simple plant factory in hall first floor http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/hitech/plant/002.html http://earthtechling.com/2012/08/agri-cube-turns-a-parking-spot-into-a-vegetable-factory/

Sketch of plant factory in future In future plant factory can be install in anywhere around the world http://www.genopomii.unina.it/genohort/files/ch5302%208-11.pdf

Problems of plant factory High initial cost High energy consumption Limited types and varieties of crops available to production Need cultivation technology to improve for higher production Lack of human resource with both cultivated skills and facility management skills https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jssd/59/0/59_96/_pdf

Challenges of plant factory To make a comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). To develop schemes to use plant factory in hotels, restaurants, hospitals, schools, community centers, etc. Improve the lighting system and light quality. To develop an integral environment control and management system. To integrate the plant factory with other bio-production and resource recycling systems. To develop management systems for the production of medicinal and other functional plants. To use natural renewable energy sources and implement information technology http://www.genopomii.unina.it/genohort/files/ch5302%208-11.pdf

Conclusion Soil and sunlight can be replaced for plant growth. Plant factory can get high production and high quality vegetable, but high cost. Plant factory increase by year, and can be installed in anywhere (hospital, home, hotel, and so on ) for future.

Discussion topic 1. Do you want to buy plant factory product? Why? 2. Can plant factory will replace traditional agriculture in future? Why?