Horticulture hybrid seminar in Tokyo highlights autonomous growing challenges and opportunities
A recent Netherlands-Japan horticulture seminar in Tokyo illuminated the progress and hurdles associated with autonomous growing in greenhouses and vertical farms. While advancements in automation products and services are impressive, growers encounter challenges that may hinder widespread adoption of technologies. There is a need for more flexibility that allows them to integrate diverse technologies from different vendors.
The seminar, hosted by the Netherlands Embassy on 25 July, focused on “sustainable and profitable greenhouse business: Autonomous growing - experiments and experiences”. The event attracted nearly 280 participants, underscoring the topic's significance. Presentations from industry experts showcased latest developments from the two countries.
Mr. Laurens van der Spek of Blue Radix, introduced Crop Controller, that analyses greenhouse data, sensory data and local weather forecasts to optimally steer the greenhouse climate and irrigation installations autonomously. Mr. Susumu Tanaka of Salad Bowl presented his company's vision for the Digital Company and reflected on his own experiments and experiences with automation in his greenhouses.
Mr. Sven Duijvestijn of Artechno Growsystems introduced fully automated turn-key vertical farming factories for indoor crop production, and Dr. Eri Hayashi of Japan Plant Factory Association (JPFA) provided insights into history and status of PFAL (plant factories with artificial lighting) in Japan.
Panel discussion
A panel discussion revealed common obstacles, such as the difficulty of integrating different products and services to meet the grower’s business needs. A modular approach and standardized interfaces emerged as potential solutions. The panel also emphasized the complementary nature of vertical farming and traditional greenhouse horticulture, along with the importance of phenotyping in optimizing crop management and speeding up digitalization.
While greenhouses and vertical farms may not be the way forward for all growers, the seminar underscored its potential to enhance food production sustainability and efficiency, and there are opportunities for Dutch and Japanese stakeholders to collaborate on common areas.
