This Robot-Run Indoor Farm Can Grow 10 Million Heads Of Lettuce A Year

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When a sprawling new "vegetable factory" opens near Kyoto, Japan in 2017, it will be the first farm with no farmers.

Robots will plant lettuce seeds, transplant them, raise the vegetables, and automatically carry the fully-grown lettuce heads to a packing line, where they can get ready to be sent to local grocery stores.

In a single day, the farm can harvest 30,000 heads of lettuce.
This Robot-Run Indoor Farm Can Grow 10 Million Heads Of Lettuce A Year | Co.Exist | ideas + impact


Joe Mobley
  • I guess if you're a Japanese lettuce farmer, your brain's gonna be worth lettuce in 2017.

    I'm not mad on the stuff, 'specially when I'm eatin' out or pullin' a quicko meal from the store, but it wins out over cocktails for nutrients.

    Lettuce is a great way of fillin' up a plate with nothin'.

    Worse case scenario: a whole buncha lettuce disguises the reality that it's servin' as an accompaniment for zilcho.

    So you crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch, crunch on the leaves, and in 2017, alla that high falutin' lettuce machinery gonna zing zing zing zing zing those greenies along the production line, while all the Japanese guys transfer their veg growin' skills to mebbe broccoli or spinach or some other more unpopular kinda foliage.

    Tellya, there's a frickin' disaster movie in this baby.
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    • Profile picture of the author Cali16
      I saw that story earlier today. The concept sounds genius in theory, but I have to wonder if they just keep re-using the same soil (I didn't see any, although I assume it's there somewhere) over and over, leading to nutritionally depleted crops... (Maybe ThomM will weigh in on this...)
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      • Profile picture of the author Kay King
        I think a company smart enough to use robotics for farming would have the basic farming principles down - such as enriching soil.

        I'm wondering if the young plants grown from seeds are transplanted into soil or perhaps use hydroponics at that point.

        Two things: The risk of e. coli or other contamination is absent because humans and/or animal waste doesn't post a risk in this environment.

        Second, I'm an idiot. My first thought was to feel sorry for the lettuce because it doesn't get the sunlight. Duh, it's lettuce....
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        • Profile picture of the author ThomM
          Originally Posted by Kay King View Post

          I think a company smart enough to use robotics for farming would have the basic farming principles down - such as enriching soil.

          I'm wondering if the young plants grown from seeds are transplanted into soil or perhaps use hydroponics at that point.

          Two things: The risk of e. coli or other contamination is absent because humans and/or animal waste doesn't post a risk in this environment.

          Second, I'm an idiot. My first thought was to feel sorry for the lettuce because it doesn't get the sunlight. Duh, it's lettuce....
          Hay Lettuce needs sunlight (and love) too

          On a more (or less) serious note. The advancement in grow lights over the last few years has been incredible. Funny thing is a lot of the advancements are because of indoor Cannabis growing.
          Now with the lettuce they would be using lights that are more in the blue spectrum with nominal reds possibly added in. If they where growing something like tomatoes the lighting would lean more to the red spectrum. Plant scientist have even narrowed lighting down to what wave lengths a specific plant needs for growth and flowering.
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      • Profile picture of the author ThomM
        Originally Posted by Cali16 View Post

        I saw that story earlier today. The concept sounds genius in theory, but I have to wonder if they just keep re-using the same soil (I didn't see any, although I assume it's there somewhere) over and over, leading to nutritionally depleted crops... (Maybe ThomM will weigh in on this...)
        From looking at the one picture I'd say there's no soil involved.
        Looks like a N.F.T. system (Nutrient Film Technique).
        Smart way to go actually. Hyundai has a home edition that I really like. Sleek hydroponic unit lets you grow a garden in your kitchen : TreeHugger
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    • Profile picture of the author sbucciarel
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      Originally Posted by Princess Balestra View Post

      Lettuce is a great way of fillin' up a plate with nothin'.

      Worse case scenario: a whole buncha lettuce disguises the reality that it's servin' as an accompaniment for zilcho.
      My sentiments exactly. lol.
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    I wonder how the veggies will be inspected for the unexpected mold, mildew, or other sickness causing thing.
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

      I wonder how the veggies will be inspected for the unexpected mold, mildew, or other sickness causing thing.
      They have that covered with the climate control.
      The factory automatically controls temperature, humidity, the level of carbon dioxide, and light to optimize growth.
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  • K, jus' Googled it.

    "Night of the Crazed Lettuce Farmer Rejects" is due for release February 2018.

    Here's a promo still:




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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    It would be interesting to know if the added expense for the cost of energy for lighting is less than the cost of labor.
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

      It would be interesting to know if the added expense for the cost of energy for lighting is less than the cost of labor.
      The cost for lighting would be the same regardless. You'd have to compare the cost of labor to the cost of running the automated or robot parts.
      With the use of LED lighting over HID you can reduce your energy usage and costs considerably. Growing something like lettuce you could even use fluorescents though I think LED's would still be less expensive to run. I've only done comparisons between HID and LED's though so not really sure. But for an example of LED's versus HID's, a 600 watt LED fixture runs at 2.44 amps. a 600 watt MH or HPS HID runs at 6.2 amps. You can also fine tune to LED light spectrum which you can't really do with HID's.
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      • Profile picture of the author Kurt
        Originally Posted by ThomM View Post

        The cost for lighting would be the same regardless. You'd have to compare the cost of labor to the cost of running the automated or robot parts.
        With the use of LED lighting over HID you can reduce your energy usage and costs considerably. Growing something like lettuce you could even use fluorescents though I think LED's would still be less expensive to run. I've only done comparisons between HID and LED's though so not really sure. But for an example of LED's versus HID's, a 600 watt LED fixture runs at 2.44 amps. a 600 watt MH or HPS HID runs at 6.2 amps. You can also fine tune to LED light spectrum which you can't really do with HID's.
        Last I checked, sunlight is free.


        Although the robots can probably be used outdoors with a little modification.
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        • Profile picture of the author ThomM
          Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

          Last I checked, sunlight is free.


          Although the robots can probably be used outdoors with a little modification.
          True but with a system like they use with the stacked beds, it's not practical. Then you have the whole shorter days in winter and longer days in summer thing to contend with.
          I would think between solar panels and water turbines they could run their system without being tied to the grid though.
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  • Profile picture of the author bizgrower
    The method posted by OP sounds cleaner than current practices by Colorado marijuana growers.
    There is currently a problem with an unexpected pest or microbe:
    (I'm not sure if this lawsuit deals with the same pest that a former employee was telling me about.)
    Colorado's largest pot grower sued by two consumers over pesticide use - The Denver Post

    Colorado also has a huge greenhouse tomato grower. They can supply most of the State and then some.
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    • Profile picture of the author Kurt
      Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

      The method posted by OP sounds cleaner than current practices by Colorado marijuana growers.
      There is currently a problem with an unexpected pest or microbe:
      (I'm not sure if this lawsuit deals with the same pest that a former employee was telling me about.)
      Colorado's largest pot grower sued by two consumers over pesticide use - The Denver Post

      Colorado also has a huge greenhouse tomato grower. They can supply most of the State and then some.
      Combining greenhouses with artificial lighting may be the most efficient. Use natural sunlight when you can and supplement it with artificial lighting when it's overcast or to extend the daylight hours.


      I'm not sure taking sunlight, converting it to energy, then back to light is the most efficient use of the sunlight. Use it directly whenever possible.
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      • Profile picture of the author ThomM
        Originally Posted by Kurt View Post

        Combining greenhouses with artificial lighting may be the most efficient. Use natural sunlight when you can and supplement it with artificial lighting when it's overcast or to extend the daylight hours.


        I'm not sure taking sunlight, converting it to energy, then back to light is the most efficient use of the sunlight. Use it directly whenever possible.
        Absolutely. That's what greenhouses that aren't using stacked growing systems do. Now with the system in the O.P. that can't be done so what I mentioned before using solar panels would be the most efficient use of sunlight.
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    • Profile picture of the author ThomM
      Originally Posted by bizgrower View Post

      The method posted by OP sounds cleaner than current practices by Colorado marijuana growers.
      There is currently a problem with an unexpected pest or microbe:
      (I'm not sure if this lawsuit deals with the same pest that a former employee was telling me about.)
      Colorado's largest pot grower sued by two consumers over pesticide use - The Denver Post

      Colorado also has a huge greenhouse tomato grower. They can supply most of the State and then some.
      That is totally irresponsible on the growers part. Personally I think they should be shut down. But then I think farmers that use pesticides on our food that leave a residue should be shut down also
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