Tomatoes and Eggs Abroad

Today was our first full day in Japan and we learned a lot and took in great sites. Both of the operations that we visited were located outside of town. this provided a great opportunity to see the countryside including: rice, vineyards, natural areas, and even monkeys. We started the day by visiting Agrimind. This is a company that grows hydroponic tomatoes in greenhouses. The growing greenhouses cover 19,314 square meters (69,965 square feet). This facility was the first project of this type in all of Asia when it began in 2014. 

For lunch we had the opportunity to experience our first Japanese restaurant. The helpings were plentiful and we did not leave hungry. Next, we visited Kurofuji Poultry company that gathers 600,000 eggs per day. Everything is produced organically and with sustainability in mind. They are engaged with innovative practices of feeding algae, fermenting and mixing their own feed, creative composting, and more. We enjoyed some of their store products while discussing their farm and company before exploring their operation. 

We rounded out the evening at a local ramen noodles restaurant. After a spectacular meal some did a little shopping and exploring. 

Farming in the Sky

Urban farming is gaining momentum across the globe and this is evident in the Netherlands which now claims fame to the largest urban farm in Europe. Urban Farmers, the company behind this urban farm, hope to provide 900 families along with local restaurants and a cooking school with vegetables and fish. Read the linked article below detailing this project and utilize the discussion points provided to create conversations in your classrooms and communities.

Greenhouse in the Sky

Discussion Points

• Why is there a demand for urban farms like this around the world? 
• Why is there great potential to replicate this type of production?
• Explain the aquaponics system explained in this article and the efficiency that it brings.
• Do you see something like this taking off in your local community? Explain.
• Discuss the proposal by a hog farmer to integrate hog production into the urban scene? Do you think one day this will be accomplished? Explain.
• Is urban farming a fad? React to the following statement from the article: “I always refer to the debates about parks in the city in the past. I think in 100 years, urban agriculture will be as normal as the city parks we have today.”