Japanese trio plan vegetable factory in Dubai

The joint-venture will begin by introducing a “demonstration plant​” in Dubai after the companies involved agreed with local conglomerate Al Ghurair Group to hold a one-year field testing and regional marketing operation, with the longer aim of introducing a large-scale commercial vegetable factory. 

The demonstration plant will be used as a showroom for customers who are considering opening their own vegetable factories in locations across the Middle East.

The joint venture’s specialised growing facilities focus on the artificial control of international conditions, including lighting, temperature, humidity and nutrient supply for the stable cultivation of vegetables all year round.

Such vegetable factories are a viable means of vegetable cultivation in regions where water is scarce or difficult to obtain, such as in the Middle East, as well as in places where sunshine is limited or unreliable, and where civil war has ravaged arable land.  

They allow the harvest of leafy vegetables like lettuce every day regardless of the season, and are seen as a positive move in a bid to promote global food security.

The Dubai plant will run entirely on LED lighting using “Shigyo​” technology developed by Showa Denko to achieve high speeds of crop growth and large yields.

Shigyo adheres to the so-called “S Method​” of supplying the optimum combination of red and blue light to accelerate photoresponses in each of a vegetable’s growing stages. It uses LEDs manufactured by Showa Denko to irradiate the plants at optimised intervals and reduces electricity costs.

Vegetable flavour and density can also be manipulated by controlling the wavelength and intensity of the LED lighting, the company said.

Alongside Showa Denko, Chiyoda will use the knowledge it has gained through the experimental study of crop cultivation on the International Space Station to conduct design, procurement and management of the factory, while Marubeni will promote and conduct market development of vegetable factories in overseas countries.