Feasibility Study of Rice Growth in Plant Factories

Abstract

Global food production will need to increase more than 50% before 2050 to satisfy the food demands of an increasing human population. To solve this food crisis, an increase in rice production will be necessary as rice is especially vital for the nutrition of much of the population in many countries. One solution to the future food shortage worldwide would be to cultivate crops in places where plants to do typically grow (e.g., desert and Antarctic). The technology for "plant factories", a new facility to grow plants under a controlled environment that would enable high yield and high quality production year-round, is progressing. Through the computer-based, automated control of environmental conditions for optimal rice growth, the external environmental conditions would have little effect on the plants growing inside the plant factory. In the near future, the plant factory could play an important role in areas where field productions are difficult or impossible. Moreover, since producing biopharmaceuticals in plants through genetic engineering technologies has many economic and qualitative benefits, the trial to produce useful materials in transgenic plants is examined in the plant factory. Transgenic plants might therefore expand the usefulness of plant factories. In this review article, feasibility of rice growth in plant factories is summarized.

Growth and Accumulation of Secondary Metabolites in Perilla as Affected by Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density and Electrical Conductivity of the Nutrient Solution

“…The ability to control environmental factors using plant factory technology has allowed producers to maintain complete control of their production systems. A plant factory is a plant production facility that provides growers the advantage of controlling environmental factors that control plant growth and development ( Yamori et al, 2014 ; Kozai et al, 2015 ). In many countries, such as Japan, USA, China, and Korea, plant factories provide year-round high quantity and quality commercial production of leafy vegetables, herbs, and transplants.…”

A Combination of Downward Lighting and Supplemental Upward Lighting Improves Plant Growth in a Closed Plant Factory with Artificial Lighting

“…''Plant factories with artificial lighting'' are a new type of facility that can produce high yield with high quality all year round in a controlled environment (e.g., lighting, temperature, CO 2 concentration, and nutrients) (Kozai, 2013a;Yamori et al, 2014). PFALs have many advantages over conventional farming and greenhouses (Merrill et al, 2016).…”

Effects of Light Wavelength on Daughter Cladode Growth and Quality in Edible Cactus Nopalea cochenillifera Cultured in a Plant Factory with Artificial Light

“…Fully enclosed plant factories that use artificial light are already in use in Japan for the production of leafy vegetables. The main advantage of modern plant factories is that their controlled, optimal cultivation environment allows high-quality, pesticidefree vegetables to be produced throughout the year, increasing the safety and supply of food crops (Yamori et al 2014). However, plant factories also have some disadvantages, such as the very high initial investment and running costs (particularly with respect to personnel, fuel, and light expenses) (Yanata & Takata 2014).…”