TOKYO -- Japanese companies are increasingly looking to export their state-of-the-art vegetable factories and aquaculture facilities.
Taikisha has received an order from a client in Southeast Asia to build a lettuce factory by the end of next year. A typical plant costs 500 million yen ($4.86 million) to build.
Taikisha has received an order from a client in Southeast Asia to build a lettuce factory by the end of next year.
The company, which operates two vegetable factories in Japan, has received inquiries about the system from companies in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia so far. Factories capable of delivering vegetables directly to retailers are popular in countries where high temperatures cause fresh produce to spoil quickly.
IMT Engineering, which develops land-based aquaculture systems, recently received an order to construct an indoor shrimp-production system in Ulan Bator, Mongolia, for 50 million yen, including the technical assistance fee. Construction began in May. It will be the country's first shrimp-growing facility. The company aims to increase exports of the system.
Agricultural venture company Mirai plans to begin selling its vegetable factories in Russia this year. The company also hopes to find welcoming markets in drier locations, such as the Middle East. It has already built and launched two lettuce factories in Mongolia, one in a location with a semi-arid climate.
Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings is looking to sell its vegetable factories to agricultural associations and farmers in China. The company recently set up a joint sales company that markets a system that automatically grows chemical-free vegetables. It aims to have 50 factories in 15 provinces, including Jiangsu, by 2017.
(Nikkei)
