Technology Q & A

Q: What is a plant factory?

A plant factory is a system and facilities to automatically and continuously produce vegetables, seedlings and other crops regardless of the season by artificially controlling ambient conditions such as light, temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration and culture solution.
Plant factories can be categorized into sunlight-based factories and totally-controlled factories.
In most factories, hydroponic farming is conducted because it is very easily controlled.
Totally-controlled plant factories are the only system that can grow all kinds of crops without using any agricultural chemicals.

Q: What kind of light sources do you use to grow plants?

High-pressure sodium lamps, metal halide lamps, fluorescent lamps and LEDs, etc., have been used as artificial light sources in totally-controlled plant factories. Until several years ago, high-pressure sodium lamps were mainly used because of their high luminous efficiency.
Recently, fluorescent lamps and LEDs are attracting a lot of attention because the light they emit radiates less heat, making them suitable for multistage cultivation. Meanwhile, high-pressure sodium lamps are frequently used as supplemental light in sunlight-based plant factories.

Q: What is the major challenge that plant factories face?
What is their main characteristic?

It is important that overall production be inexpensive in order to reduce costs, especially service costs.
It is also crucial to produce vegetables that are not only hygienic and chemical-free but also delicious and highly functional.

Q: What is the difference between the SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH CENTER and PLANT FACTORY DEVELOPMENT Inc?

The Social Development Research Center offers basic consulting services and conducts commissioned research.
Plant Factory Development Inc. helps clients to construct plant factories on a practical level.