Japan's Mirai, which has developed technology by which vegetables can be grown in a controlled factory environment, is eyeing the China market for overseas expansion, reports the 21st Century Business Review.
Japan's Mirai, which was set up in 2004, began commercial vegetable production in collaboration with Chiba University after it received government funding in 2009, and succeeded with a trial project where LED lights were used to replace natural sunlight.
The company said the technology helps reduce vegetable production time by half, citing the example of lettuce, which can be grown in 33 to 35 days, as opposed to the 70 days traditionally required.