Reference Article: Green Lettuce – 1

Osaka Prefecture University discloses the internal situation of “Green Cock Next-generation (GCN) of plant factory of Osaka Prefecture University,” on September 17, 2014，. The plant uses the LED plant light developed by Philips Electronics Japan (Headquarters: Tokyo, referred to as Philips) for breeding. The large plant factory erected in Osaka Prefecture and known as Japan’s fifth-largest plant factory was opened in September 19 2014 and will formally put into production in early October. Philips hopes accumulated technical experience through the plant factory to sell their products in Japan.

 Red, Blue, White & Infra-Red: LED-Grow-Light 180W-LED-grow-light

The plant factory uses 13,000 Philips “Green Power LED Production Module”. This is the Lighting equipped with LED chip with far infrared light (750nm wavelength in the vicinity) for the first time，which can emit four kinds of light including red, blue, white and far-infrared light. The light the plant factory accustomed to using is usually red, blue and white, it is because that the red and blue light are better for plant photosynthesis，while the use of far infrared light can improve the efficiency of photosynthesis to accelerate the growth rate. Osaka Prefecture University said: “because the LED plant light can promote plant growth, and has excellent dust and water resistance” (Director of Research Center of Osaka plant factory Prefectural University said), so using the Green Power LED Production Module.

There are just 40 days from sowing to harvest Lettuce and other plants of the plant factory. According to the company, compared with ordinary fluorescent lighting，the LED plant light make the cultivated time shortened by 20%, power consumption can be reduced by 55%. Since LED plant light generate very little heat, so the electricity used to manage the temperature of the air conditioning can also be saved.

The plant is invested and built by cooperation projects of Osaka Prefecture University and a number of enterprises，covering an area of ​​approximately 1300㎡, producing 5000pcs lettuce and other leafy vegetables every day. The vegetables produced and dubbed “Gakuen food” brand will be directly supplied to supermarkets and restaurants in Osaka Prefecture. Because there are fewer bacteria carried on vegetables and short the transport distance, so saving time is nearly two times over the vegetables cultivated in the open-air. Although the price will be higher than ordinary vegetables, but commercial operation will be performed by ensuring quality and establishing a stable supply system. If there is demand, but high value-added vegetables without potassium (K) and vegetables also can be produced.