Japan is slowly making sci-fi future a reality; from underwear vending machines to cuddle safes. From the most absurd inventions to the most high-tech ones, Japan never fails to fascinate the rest of the world. However this recent invention will not only bring fascination but also admiration from the whole world. Japan has now created a farm operated by robots. Yes, it's a farmer-free farm.
Admittedly, the technology of using robots to operate farms isn't new. However this isn't just an automatized tractor that runs. As reported by Grist, Spread, the new "vegetable factory" located near Kyoto, is the world's first farmer-free farm. Yes, no farmers will be seen planting, growing, and harvesting the produce. The entire workforce will be composed solely of robots.
In an interview conducted by Fast, Spread has foreseen the need for high-tech vegetable factories in the future.
"There are several reasons vegetable factories will be needed in the future in order to create a sustainable society," says Kiyoka Morita from Spread.
Robots will plant lettuce seeds, transplant them, raise vegetables and automatically carry the fully-grown lettuce heads to packing line where they will prepared for delivery to the different local grocery stores.
The Japanese company designing the factory opened its first indoor farm in 2006. Spread is already supplying lettuce to 2,000 stores around Tokyo. However, it has seen an opportunity to make the process even more efficient. The farmer free farm is deemed as the model of future farming according to Spread.
Like most of the indoor farms, the farmer free farm is designed to use less water than the traditional way. Spread's new factory will use a technology that will allow them to recycle 98 percent of water used. The factory is also sealed making contamination impossible thus pesticides or herbicides are of no use. It also has an ultra-efficient lighting system that can be powered by renewable energy. Japan imports about 60 percent of its food each year, but with Spread it can support the local supply.
However, this also touches a delicate issue. What about the farmers? What will happen to them if this technology takes over? Do you approve of these farmer free farms? Share us your thoughts, leave your comments below.
