Yamaguchi University, MOT Research Institute, Ltd. and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation Concludes a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement on a Plant Factory
We are pleased to inform you that the National University Corporation Yamaguchi University (Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, President: Oka Masaaki), MOT Research Institute, Ltd. (Head office: Ube City, President: Toshiyuki Kimura) and Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (Head office: Chiyoda City, Tokyo, President: Hiroaki Ishizuka) have concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement for their joint research and development which relates to general tasks for a plant factory.
So far, Yamaguchi University has conducted various research and development concerning a plant factory such as monitoring of cultivation environment and functional improvement of vegetables by environmental control, and worked on improvement of research base to establish and demonstrate new technologies utilizing promotion services of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).
As a think tank and consulting firm, MOT Research Institute, Ltd. has been promoting business development in the field of environment, energy, foods and biotechnology to contribute to the development of the regional economy and establishment of local community.
Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation started the sales of totally artificial light plant factory systems in January, 2010. By controlling the cultivation environment (such as humidity and nourishment) to an optimum state, the system can cultivate vegetables with stable quality throughout the year without being influenced by the climate.
The plant factory systems are delivered not only to Japan but also overseas such as to Russia and Hong Kong. The system has received high praise and earned very good reputation among the countries it is sent to.
Thanks to the recent comprehensive partnership agreement, the technology base owned by Yamaguchi University, business development know-how owned by MOT Research Institute, Ltd. and technology and business knowledge owned by Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation will be integrated.
So, we are scheduled to conduct research and development which relate to general tasks for the plant factory such as new cultivar, cultivation techniques and plant engineering. Also through the above-mentioned joint research and development, we will conduct a more active personnel exchange and human resources development.
