Enzan Koubou’s “Cyber Green” vegetable factory system helps ensure efficient and accurate cultivation and supports planned production by sensing the environment in which the vegetables grow (temperature, CO2 concentration, pH, lighting, etc.) and utilizing IT to artificially create the optimal conditions for cultivation. In a completely-controlled vegetable factory that uses artificial lighting such as HEFL and LED, this system ensures stable vegetable production by controlling various conditions that play an important role in the growth of the vegetables:

• Room temperature, humidity and temperature of liquid fertilizer
• pH
• EC, Electric Conductivity (liquid fertilizer concentration)
  
• CO2 concentration
• Lighting (how much light shines on the vegetables)

Features of the “Cyber Green” Vegetable Factory System

1. Monitoring ： Keep track of conditions (including error detection) inside the vegetable factory in real time.
2. Control ： Maintain a constant room temperature and concentration of liquid fertilizer.
3. Statistical simulation ： Analyze the correlation between cultivation conditions and crop volumes based on past data stored in the database and run simulations on things like future crop volumes. Estimate the yield and when the crops can be shipped out for planned production.
4. Flexible customization ： We will customize the functions and screen specifications according to your requirements.

Individual Functions

1. 
    
   The system comes with a function to control various conditions like temperature and lighting in a cyclical manner so that the environment will change in cycles (regular time intervals) just like it would if the vegetables were grown outdoors. It is said that a difference in daytime and nighttime temperatures is necessary to grow delicious lettuce and strawberries. This system can artificially recreate those same conditions.
2. 
    
   Error detection / reporting
   If the measurement value falls outside the pre-configured limits, the system will recognize it as an error and report it to the administrator. The notification can be in the form of an alarm or e-mail according to the customer’s requirements. It allows a prompt response to changes in conditions that cannot be seen with the eye, such as a drop in the luminance (brightness) of the lighting system or a change in the pH of the liquid fertilizer in the hydroponic cultivation system.
3. 
    
   3) X- R control chart creation / analysis
   Quality control is another important function in vegetable factories that mass produce vegetables. X-R control charts are essential for determining whether or not the production process is in a statistically controlled state. They are a tool for determining whether variations in quality characteristic values will result in abnormalities. Cyber Green automatically analyzes abnormalities that exceed upper and lower control limits (UCL and LCL) and data trends. If an abnormality is detected, the administrator is notified.

Notes

1. Maximum number of items to be controlled (maximum number of conditions that can be monitored or controlled) The maximum number of items to be controlled (maximum number of conditions, such as temperature, lighting and pH, that can be monitored or controlled) is 512 in the case of the basic package. Because 512 different conditions can be controlled, the system can be used in a variety of situations, from experimental cultivation to large-scale vegetable factories. The maximum can be increased if necessary
   Contact us for details.
    
2. Maximum number of sets to be controlled (maximum number of sets of cultivation conditions) For example, to monitor and control the following conditions, it is necessary to manage (monitor and control) a total of eight types of conditions.

   Monitoring Temperature (room/water) Humidity pH EC (liquid fertilizer concentration) Luminance

   Control Temperature control Light dimming (brightness adjustment) CO2 concentration (flow control)

   Using the basic package of the Cyber Green vegetable plant system, it is possible to manage up to 512 different conditions, so this would allow the vegetables to be cultivated under about 62 sets (512 items divided by 8 types) of conditions. The system comes in handy for centralized management of data when studying cultivation conditions or operating several cultivation facilities.
    
3. An individual graphics panel can be created as one of the management screens. This graphics panel can display measurement results according to where the device is positioned and information on device statuses (such as whether a valve is open or closed). We also provide support for creating screens with original GUI designs for intuitive control and operation.Contact us for details.

What is a Vegetable Factory?

A vegetable factory is a computer-controlled facility for cultivating vegetables. In English they are also referred to as “plant factories” or “plant farms.” The technology for vegetable factories that use artificial lighting is uniquely Japanese, and there are very few examples of studies or practical applications outside Japan. Vegetable factories that utilize Japan’s energy-saving technology and cutting-edge IT are a promising export business.

Completely Controlled Vegetable Factories (Artificially Lit Vegetable Factories)

These vegetable factories utilize artificial light sources like fluorescent lamps and LEDs to facilitate photosynthesis and cultivate plants in computer-controlled semi-clean rooms. They allow accurate annual and planned production. Additionally, they provide advanced sanitary control and maximize space utilization for advantages of scale. Urban vegetable factories that utilize space in basements and storage rooms and on rooftops are garnering attention as environmental businesses because they result in zero “food mileage.”

Sunlit Vegetable Factories

These vegetable factories utilize sunlight in greenhouses that manage and control vegetable cultivation via computer. The opening and closing of the skylight, heating, irrigation and other operations are automated. Sunlight is used for photosynthesis, making multilevel cultivation difficult, so they are mostly found in large-scale facilities in suburban areas.

Lighting Systems Used in Vegetable Factories

Artificial light sources are used to facilitate photosynthesis in completely controlled vegetable factories. The predominant types used today are fluorescent tubes and LEDs. A large number of light sources are required in a closed space, so the heat produced heavily impacts the air conditioning and, as a result, the running costs. The lighting itself uses electricity, but it is also important to fully consider the effect of the heat that will be generated.

Fluorescent tubes Lighting Systems

Light-emitting diodes（LEDｓ）Lighting Systems

Hydroponic and Artificial Soil-based Cultivation in Vegetable Factories

Both hydroponic and soil-based cultivation are possible in sunlit vegetable factories. In completely controlled vegetable factories, on the other hand, semi-clean rooms are used, which means there are no insects or bacteria, so hydroponic cultivation is the favored method. Growing root crops has proved difficult when using the hydroponic cultivation method, but in recent years, much progress has been made on developing special artificial soil for completely controlled vegetable factories. Once it becomes possible to grow root crops in completely controlled vegetable factories, it will allow mass production of vegetables with higher added value.

Hydroponic Cultivation Systems

Artificial Soil-based Cultivation Systems

Contact us TEL: +81-75-417-0100 Form: The page of   Contact us