Toshiba to commercialise vegetable production

Toshiba has begun construction of a vegetable plant factory at a facility in Yokosuka, Kanagawa prefecture. The production management system will be based on that utilised for semiconductor device production.

The plant will be equipped with closed growing systems that integrate: fluorescent lighting with an output wavelength optimised for vegetable growth; air-conditioning systems that maintain constant temperature and moisture level; remote monitoring systems to track growth; and sterilisation systems for packing materials.

The company will start shipping lettuce, baby leaf greens, spinach, mizuna and other vegetables in the second quarter of FY2014. Annual sales are estimated at 300 million yen. In order to increase sales in this new business, Toshiba is also considering construction of a large-scale plant factory outside Japan and the sale of equipment for plant factory applications within FY2014.

Building on its global presence in CT and other diagnostic imaging systems, Toshiba is promoting a healthcare business that combines technologies and know-how from across the group.

Plant factories grow vegetables in close to sterile conditions in almost germ-free cleanrooms. Minimising the entry of germs and the damage that they can do considerably extends the freshness and shelf life of vegetables, a major concern for retailers of cut vegetables and salads.

Toshiba will promote sales to supermarkets, convenience stores and restaurants, and also plans to meet market needs by offering functional vegetables rich in polyphenols and vitamin C, achieved by careful control of the growth environment.