Toshiba commences vegetable production at new factory
The production management system will be based on that utilised for semiconductor device production
One of Japan's leading chip companies have decided to grow lettuce and other vegetables in the unproductive semiconductor clean rooms.
Toshiba Corporation is adding a new dimension to its business by starting production of pesticide-free, long-life vegetables in a closed-type plant factory that operates under almost aseptic conditions.
The plant factory is being installed in an idle facility at Yokosuka. It will be equipped with closed growing systems that integrate state-of-the-art technologies: 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 production management system will be based on that utilised for semiconductor device production.Plant factories grow vegetables in close to sterile conditions in almost germ-free cleanroom thereby minimising the entry of germs and the damage that they can do to extend the freshness and shelf-life of vegetables.
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. In order to increase sales in this new business, Toshiba is also considering construction a large-scale plant factory outside Japan, and the sale of equipment for plant factory applications within FY2014.
