Fujitsu Commences Field Trials of Japan's Largest Low-Potassium "Plant Factory"

Tokyo, July 05, 2013

Fujitsu Limited today announced the start of field trials led by Fujitsu Home & Office Services Limited in the city of Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture. The trials will use the FUJITSU Intelligent Society Solution "Akisai" Food and Agriculture Cloud Platform for this large-scale plant factory. With 2,000 m² of space for production, this is the largest plant factory in Japan for the cultivation of low-potassium vegetables.

The field trials started with a proposal from Fujitsu Home & Office Services, as representative of a consortium, to test a large-scale technology-enabled plant factory business based on advanced low-potassium plant cultivation techniques. It was adopted by the Reconstruction Agency and Ministry of the Economy, Trade, and Industry (METI) for a 2013 advanced agricultural production system field trial⁽¹⁾, and is being conducted by a consortium of companies, including companies from within the Fujitsu Group, Aizufujikako Co., Ltd., and Fukushima Medical University.

Through this field trial, the consortium aims to cultivate low-potassium leaf lettuce that can be eaten raw by dialysis patients and people with chronic kidney disease. The consortium hopes to contribute to the creation of a society where there is food that everyone can enjoy, as well as to contribute to the rebuilding of local industry.

Project Characteristics

Low-potassium cultivation technology

People under doctor's orders to limit their potassium intake, which includes dialysis patients and people with chronic kidney disease, find themselves with limited options for vegetables that can be eaten raw, making low-potassium vegetables a highly attractive option. By capitalizing on the low-potassium vegetable cultivation techniques and knowledge of Aizufujikako and Akita Prefectural University, Fujitsu Home & Office Services will begin trial production of low-potassium leaf lettuce in October 2013, and will shift to full-scale production in January 2014. In doing so, the company will aim to meet the nutritional demands of people who require low-potassium vegetables.

Utilizing semiconductor fabrication technology

The project draws on the know-how that Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited developed in semiconductor-fabrication clean rooms for determining optimum production conditions and microorganism control to precisely manage atmospheric conditions and the active ingredients included in liquid fertilizers, creating the ideal growing environment for low-potassium vegetables.

Plant engineering

Also utilized is the infrastructure supply and power-efficient semiconductor fab management at Fujitsu Facilities Engineering Limited, which helps to provide an infrastructure environment ideal for low-potassium cultivation and energy-efficient operation.

Data-driven agricultural technology using the "Akisai" Food and Agriculture Cloud Platform

The project uses Akisai, the food and agricultural cloud from Fujitsu that leverages ICT to dramatically improve the efficiency of agricultural operations. Akisai will be used to continually analyze agricultural data for highly productive cultivation and to facilitate the entire management process, including management, production, and sales, for a more efficient agricultural operation.

Technology to bring just what is needed to the people that need it, when they need it

Using delivery channels for fresh fish, pharmaceuticals, and other products for seniors ensures that low-potassium vegetables can reach the people who need them, when the need them. It also enables the traceability of the produce for greater peace of mind.

Project Overview

1. Location: Wakamatsu City, Fukushima Prefecture
2. Duration: July 2013 to end of March 2014
3. Production scale: 2,000 m² usable space; 3,500 heads of lettuce/day production
4. Areas of responsibility
   • Fujitsu Home & Office Services Limited: Project management, production-technology improvement, sales-channel development
     (headquarters: Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture; President: Koji Imai)
   • Fujitsu Limited: Application of food and agricultural cloud; application of production-management technology
     (headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Masami Yamamoto)
   • Fujitsu Semiconductor Limited: Application of control technologies related to clean rooms and quality
     (headquarters: Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture; President: Haruki Okada)
   • Fujitsu Facilities Engineering Limited: Equipping and supplying infrastructure environment, energy-efficiency improvements
     (headquarters: Aizu Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture: President: Shuichi Mishima)
   • Aizufujikako Co., Ltd.: Supply low-potassium technology, develop distribution channels
     (headquarters: Aizu Wakamatsu, Fukushima Prefecture; President: Shigeru Matsunaga)
   • Fukushima Medical University: Clinical trials
     (location: Fukushima City, Fukushima Prefecture; President: Shinichi Kikuchi)