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Hokaido, Japan
One Farm Co., Ltd.
One Farm Co., Ltd., based in the agricultural heartland of Hokkaido, is a leading company in hydroponic cultivation, growing plants using only water and liquid fertilizer. The company was established in 2010 as an independent agricultural production division of Add One, a distributor and retailer of agricultural products. Its farms are located in Okadama Town, Toyoura Town (Abuta District), and Naganuma Town (Yubari District), where it grows organically certified rhubarb and other crops.
A stable supply during the winter when vegetable supplies are low will lead to market expansion.
Customer challenge
Their biggest challenge is to have a constant yield due to a lack of sunlight during the cold season. The company mainly sells its vegetables in the "Nana's Salad Garden" sections of department stores and supermarkets, but if shipment volumes decline, the company will lose shelf space. Managing Director Toshiki Yamaguchi: "On the other hand, if we can deliver fresh leafy vegetables in the winter, when supplies are low, it will be a strong selling point for our business partners. We need to stabilize production volumes and quality so that consumers know that ‘if I go to that section, I will always find delicious salads.' Our challenge was to extend the production cycle and increase yields and profitability."
The solution
To address these issues, a Philips GreenPower LED toplighting compact was installed in the newly built MGS Greenhouse at the Okadama farm. "What convinced us to install Philips LED on our new farm was their extensive track record on large-scale farms overseas where hydroponic cultivation is widespread. We also read about successful installations at prominent farms in Japan.” To fully maximize the potential of the Toplighting compact system, they also adopted GrowWise control and the results have been excellent. 'As we built a relationship of trust, we implemented the GrowWise control system, which allows us to manage light intensity and spectrum via computer, alongside the LED lighting. This has produced excellent results,' said Yamaguchi."
While the original plan was to install LED lighting in only part of the newly expanded 1.5-hectare MGS Greenhouse, the team ultimately opted for a full-LED solution. This decision was driven by the desire to create a uniform growing environment, maximize efficiency, and support optimal crop performance across the entire facility.
The benefits
"The Philips LED team didn’t just provide us with products and manage the installation; they also offered extensive support from their plant specialists and application engineers," Yamaguchi recalls. Philips’ triangle approach ensures ongoing support—from light plan calculations to regular visits from plant specialists—even after the greenhouse is up and running.
As a result, the MGS Greenhouse is now producing higher yield in shorter time. Now during the winter it only takes them 62 days from sowing to instead 88 days. The annual number of crop harvests has risen from 11 to 15, resulting in a significant increase in production.
With Philips Horticulture LEDs installed throughout the entire greenhouse, they achieved improved light uniformity, resulting in higher yields with excellent color, taste, and nutritional value. "The agricultural environment is becoming increasingly harsh due to climate change and a declining labor force, but we are addressing these challenges by introducing Philips LED technology,” says Yamaguchi. “Stable increases in production will help build greater trust with our clients and lead to market expansion. We have gained an important partner we can rely on as we grow our business moving forward." With this innovative lighting solution in place, MGS Greenhouse is ready to take on the future and keep delivering fresh, high-quality produce that customers can count on year-round.
Philips GreenPower LED toplighting compact
Philips GreenPower LED toplighting compact allows you to easily switch to LED lighting, replacing your existing HPS set-up, or building a new installation. The high light output of up to 2650 μmol/s or high efficacy of up to 3.7 μmol/J helps you effectively optimize crop growth, enhance crop quality and cut operational costs.
Philips GrowWise control system
Get full control over your lighting with the Philips GrowWise control system. This system allows you to optimize your business results and improve your crop quality by creating custom light recipes on a μmol level. The GrowWise control system can be seamlessly integrated into your climate control system for dynamic lighting control and energy management.
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