Grow fresh vegetables in your store! Urban farm vegetable platform “Infarm” launches in Asia for the first time!
Hello, readers! This is Yamaguchi from Public Relations Department, Division 1.
Suddenly, you may be hearing the word “sustainable” a lot these days, but do you really understand it?
The word “sustainable” is composed of the words “sustain” and “able,” meaning “sustainable”. The word “sustainable” can be translated as “a society that does not overuse resources and protects the global environment so that future generations can continue to live abundantly on a beautiful planet.”
The word “sustainable” is also used in the term SDGs(Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations to be achieved by 2030), which we often hear about these days.
The word “sustainable” is now attracting attention, and consideration for the environment has become indispensable in a variety of industries. One area in particular that is inextricably linked to our daily lives is dietary habits.
In this issue, we would like to introduce “Infarm,” a cutting-edge agricultural platform that is expected to change everything from our eating habits to the environment of the earth!
■What is Infarm, an urban farm vegetable platform?
Infarm is a company that provides an urban farm vegetable platform from Berlin, Germany. To briefly explain, the company has created a system that provides fresh herbs and vegetables grown indoors directly to consumers by setting up an assembled unit called a “farm” in a supermarket or other indoor location.
The “Infarm” system has so far been deployed in nine countries around the world, mainly in Europe. And now, in January 2021, it has begun its expansion in Japan as the first Asian location, starting with three stores in Tokyo: Kinokuniya International (Aoyama Store), Daily Table KINOKUNIYA Nishi-ogikubo Station Store, and Summit Store Gotanno Store!
■In the era of local production and local consumption of agricultural products in cities
At each store where Infarm is installed, Infarm staff visit regularly to harvest vegetables grown in the store with their roots still attached. By minimizing the transportation distance from the production area to the consumption area, it is now possible to provide “fresh vegetables” full of nutrients and flavor. Once purchased, vegetables can be kept fresh by soaking the roots in a container with about 2cm of water and storing them away from high temperatures and humidity.
By purchasing Infarm produce, consumers not only have the benefit of eating delicious fresh vegetables and herbs themselves, but the Infarm system also saves 99.5% of the land, 95% of the water, and 90% of the transportation distance compared to soil-based agriculture.
In addition, no chemical pesticides are used, and food waste is reduced because produce is grown and harvested in the store or in nearby communities, allowing for “local production for local consumption in the city.
In short, the vegetables produced by Infarm not only improve safety and quality, but also make a significant contribution to environmental issues!
With the introduction of Infarm, we will be able to overturn the stereotype of “farm products being transported from the countryside,” which has been taken for granted in Japan, and have a new option.
And don’t you think the change will be positive, both for yourself and for the planet?
Our company is supporting this activity of Infirm from the aspect of PR communication. In the future, Infarm plans to roll out its products, first in several stores in the Tokyo metropolitan area, so if you see one in your local store, I hope you’ll try to buy one!
Click here to visit the official Infarm website.