January 29, 2018
Taikisha Ltd.

Press Release

Establishment of Plant Factory Demonstration andDevelopment Center in Itabashi-ku, Tokyo- Toward Creation of a More Optimal Cultivating Environment Taikisha Ltd. (Head Office: Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director, President: Toshiaki
Shiba) will establish a plant factory demonstration and development center in Itabashi -ku, Tokyo(operation start scheduled for February 5, 2018) for its plant factory business. The new facility isdesigned to strengthen responses to the needs of customers for conducting demonstration
experiments under various cultivation conditions.

(Exterior appearance of the facility)(Inside look of the facility)(Growth status of lettuce)■Background and Purpose of the Demonstration and Development Center
Since 2010, Taikisha has been conducting research and development of Vege-factory, a hydroponic
plant factory using only artificial lighting, and has a track record of receiving orders of six factories in Japanand overseas. In this business, Taikisha has become the first in the world to achieve stable mass
production of crisphead lettuce and provided one-stop integrated support services to customers, fromproduction to processing.
The need for assurance of safe and high-quality vegetables has been more and more growing in recentyears. The domestic market (total production value) for lettuce produced in plant factories using artificial
lighting only is estimated to more than double over the next five years. In addition, with the growing needsof vegetables for business and processing use, the market is expected to continu e growing at a similarpace thereafter.
In order to respond to such market trends and meet every need of customers promptly and accurately,
Taikisha will establish a new research facility in Tokyo to enable speedy response s, in addition to ourexisting research facilities.
The purposes of the new facility are to have our customers observe the cultivation conditions for mass
production of Taikisha-brand vegetables, and to conduct various demonstration experiments by responding
flexibly to the needs of customers. These include experiments for quality improvement undertaken indifferent cultivation environments, mass production technology, and new product development. Taikisha
will aim to make this facility open to the local community.

■Outline of Plant Factory Demonstration and Development CenterLocation

1-6-1 Shingashi, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo (located 12 minutes’ walk from Takashimadaira Station
and about 2km from the Takashimadaira Interchange)

New building

Steel construction, one story above ground, total floor space: approximately 450 m²

Facility configuration

Cultivation demonstration facility, element technology development demonstration facility,
processed product development facility, showroom, and office

Investment

Approximately one-hundred million yen

■Policy for the Future
Taikisha aims to develop a technology to ensure mass production of large-size lettuce, about three times
as heavy as ordinary lettuce, for commercial use without changing product quality or cultivation period.
Taikisha will also achieve full automation of plant factories in order to meet both of growing social demand
for safe and high-quality vegetables and market needs for a stable supply of vegetables for commercial use,
including for restaurants and convenience stores. Taikisha believes it will thereby be able to achieve areduction in production cost per head of lettuce and a significant improv ement in production efficiency.
Taikisha will continue to make efforts to improve brand awareness of Vege-factory and deploy safe andsecure plant factories in Japan and overseas.
Contact for inquiries from the media regarding the press release:
Taikisha Ltd.
TEL: +81-3-5338-5052 FAX: +81-3-5338-5195
E-mail: mailmast@taikisha.co.jp