News Release

Spread wins Vertical Farming World Award for the Outstanding Performance ofits Next Generation Food Production System, Techno Farm
September 27, 2021

Spread Co., Ltd. (HQ: Kyoto, Japan; CEO: Shinji Inada, hereinafter “Spread”) announced thatits next generation food production system Techno FarmTM has won the category of Best Farm
Design Innovation at Zenith Global s Vertical Farming World Awards. Spread was the only
Japanese vertical farming company to win an Award this year.
About Vertical Farming World Awards
The Awards were established in 2021 with a goal of celebrating excellence and innovationacross the global vertical farming industry, by leading food and drinks consultancy
Zenith Global. The Awards comprise of 17 categories, with the winner of eachdetermined by an independent committee of 5 judges, each with extensive knowledge invertical farming.
https://www.zenithglobal.com/events/vfwa2021#details

Techno FarmTM wins Best Farm Design Innovation
In addition to innovative concept, the judges were impressed with the stable operating rateof 99% *1 at large-scale automated Techno Farm Keihanna, which implements the system.
They highlighted the “Impressive data points and performance metrics from a forerunner in
the industry,” and that Techno FarmTM delivers the “Most evidence of improvement
presented.”

News Release

Certificate

Main technologies of Techno FarmTM

Future Developments
As the expectations for vertical farming continue to rise worldwide, Spread plans to deliver atotal production capacity of 100 tons per day in Japan by 2030. Spread will continue topursue further business opportunities through technological innovation in the field ofAgriTech, both in Japan and overseas. Spread aims to provide solutions for the global
problems of climate change and food security, and the delivery of a truly sustainable society.

*1 Based on the number of harvested lettuce heads, compared to maximum capacity of the farm

News Release
ABOUT SPREAD

Kameoka Plant, the Profitability Pioneer of Vertical Farming
Capacity：21,000 heads/2.1t/day

Spread s Kameoka Plant cracked one of the toughest
challenges in commercial vertical farming. Since starting
operations in 2007, Spread has developed sophisticatedenvironmental control technologies, and significantly improved
the overall operational efficiency at the Kameoka Plant.

GGN: 4063061345899

Together this has brought the operating rate to 97% and enabled Kameoka Plant become
profitable for the first time in 2013.
Techno Farm Keihanna. Stable Production via Innovative Technologies
Capacity：30,000heads/3t/day

Started operations in 2018. The first vertical farm to utilize
next generation food production system Techno FarmTM. At
the R&D facility attached to the farm, development of thenew cultivation techniques, as well as IoT and AI systems isunderway. As the mother plant of Techno FarmTM,

GGN: 4063061345899

Techno Farm Keihanna will serve as the foundation for the never-ending evolution of newtechnologies.
Innovative technologies, allowing for simultaneous increase in productivity andenvironmental sustainability:・Automated cultivation

・

Saving over 16,000 liters of water per day via water recycling

・

Advanced environmental control

・Energy saving due to LED lighting, tailored for vertical farming usage

・Upgrade in operational efficiency due to IoT-based management system

Next Generation Food Production System Techno FarmTM

Developed by Spread with the help of partner companies,

Techno FarmTM builds on the know-how developed at theKameoka Plant in more than 10 years of its operation.
Automated cultivation, water recycling and environmental control
technologies, specialized LED lighting as well as IoT and AI make for simultaneous increasein productivity and environmental sustainability.
Spread will continue to promote this technology as an essential part of sustainable agriculture.
URL：www.technofarm.com/en

News ReleaseOver 70 Million Packs Sold in Total *1.
Vertically Farmed Vegetables Brand Vegetus

Under the concept of “Sustainable Vegetable”, Vegetus strives to behealthy for both Earth and people. Spread s current lineup includes
3 unique varieties: crunchy Frilly Lettuce, smooth and sweet
Pleated Lettuce, soft yet crispy Fringe Lettuce. Each of these delivers
a clean and fresh taste and is rich in beta-carotene. *2 Vegetus is a favorite of children,
easy to prepare and fits into any meal, not only salads or sandwiches.
URL：www.vege-tus.com (Japanese only)

Contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Examples of Spread s contribution
・ Goal 2:

Promotion of sustainable food production

・ Goal 3:

Preventing food poisoning risk via hygiene and cultivation management practices

・ Goal 8:

Labor saving through automation and digital transformation・ Goal 9:

IoT-based management system for efficient cultivation

・ Goal 12:

Helping to reduce food loss and waste

・ Goal 13:

Promoting resilient agriculture

・ Goal 15:

Efficient usage of land resources and pesticide-free cultivation

・ Goal 17:

Techno FarmTM partnership business*1 Actual numbers of lettuce, produced and sold by Spread*2 Vegetus clears Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare standards for the “beta-carotene rich” vegetables (equal or more than 600µg/100g)[Contact information]
Spread Co., Ltd. Corporate Communication Department
E-mail: info@spread.co.jp

URL: www.spread.co.jp/en