Dandan Farm Kakeiai, which hydroponically cultivates crops in greenhouses in the mountains of Unnan City, Shimane Prefecture, has introduced the high-performance weather IoT sensor "Soratena Pro" to realize stable, high-quality vegetable production and improve work efficiency.
We interviewed Tatsuo Oda - san, Director and Farm Manager of Dadan Farm Kakeai Ltd. about the merits of utilizing observation data for greenhouse cultivation and specific applications.
Environmental management inside the greenhouse alone did not work; the key to stable cultivation was outside the greenhouse.
Dandan Farm Kakeiai Co., Ltd. grows vegetables in a hilly area surrounded by water and greenery at an altitude of 250 meters, based on the concept of "growing vegetables that make people happy. 18 greenhouses are set up on a 1 ha site, and leeks, salad spinach, salad potherb mustard, and mini celery are grown hydroponically throughout the year. Since 2007, they have been working on smart agriculture by measuring the environment inside the greenhouses and utilizing the acquired data.
The Kakeya area, where the greenhouses are located, receives less sunlight than other production areas, with cloudy weather during the rainy season and winter. For example, Kakeya has only about 1,400 hours of sunlight per year, whereas Shikoku, Hiroshima, and other areas on the Pacific coast have more than 2,000 hours. In order to increase yields and improve quality in a disadvantaged area, it was essential to implement smart farming," said Oda - san.
As they continued their data-driven agriculture, they also uncovered new challenges.
In some cases, even when the temperature and humidity inside the greenhouses were set under the same conditions, there were differences in the quality of the crops. As we searched for the cause, the possibility emerged that environmental factors outside the greenhouse, rather than inside, had a significant impact on the quality of the crops," says Oda - san.
We attempted to collect data by installing thermometers outside the greenhouses, but it was difficult to get accurate measurements due to the effects of solar radiation and topography. In addition, although there is an AMeDAS Kakei of the Japan Meteorological Agency nearby, observations were not made in real time, and the difference in elevation and distance made it impossible to get a precise grasp of the situation outside the greenhouses. It was at this time that we learned of the existence of Soratena Pro and decided to introduce it, taking advantage of the subsidy system," said Oda - san.
Weather conditions can be monitored remotely from outside the home, so that you can rest easy at night and on holidays
Since it was found that the outdoor environment has an impact on the cultivation, they have been using "Soratena Pro" to check the observation data of temperature, humidity, rainfall, wind direction, wind speed, and illumination outside the greenhouses when working in and around the greenhouses to ensure thorough cultivation management.
Until now, we had set the greenhouse environment uniformly without considering the outdoor conditions, but after the introduction of Soratena Pro, we are now adjusting the greenhouse environment to match the outdoor environment. For example, we change the temperature setting inside the greenhouse according to the rise and fall of the outside temperature. We also make detailed adjustments such as opening and closing the greenhouse windows and putting up shading curtains, since the greenhouse environment is also affected by wind speed and direction, solar radiation, and rainfall.
In addition, we now know that the outdoor environment has a close influence on crop disease risk. By taking the outdoor environment into account, we are now able to deal with phenomena that could not be solved before," says Oda - san.
On the other hand, when there are no staff around the house, such as at night or on holidays, the observation data is checked from a remote location using a smartphone.
Before we installed Soratena Pro, we had no choice but to refer to nearby weather information. Therefore, there were times when we rushed to the greenhouses at night to respond to weather changes such as sudden guerrilla downpours, but there were no actual problems and the trip ended in vain. After the introduction of Soratena Pro, we can now check accurate data in real time on our smartphones, so not only can we give appropriate instructions while on a business trip, but we can also rest easy at night and on holidays," says Oda - san.
Whether it's a good day or a bad day, you can verify why it happened with historical data to greatly increase productivity
After the introduction of Soratena Pro, he says that cultivation management based on weather data outside the greenhouses has stabilized crop quality and improved work efficiency.
He says, "Since we can now detect the effects of weather changes earlier, it has become easier to take appropriate countermeasures. By tracing the data accumulated in Soratena Pro, we can verify the reason why a problem occurred, so we can make the best use of it the next time.
In addition to using the app to check weather forecasts, such as rain clouds and cloud conditions, the company now also uses a live camera to check the current cloud movement and sky conditions on video, enabling more accurate management of greenhouse conditions.
The staff now has a common understanding that the first step is to check outdoor observation data using "Soratena Pro. By understanding the outdoor environment, it has become easier to explain the phenomena in the greenhouses. This is also helpful when handing down techniques to younger and less experienced staff. In agriculture, intuition and sense are very important factors, but it is easier to understand and much more efficient to communicate them numerically," says Oda - san.
We want to adapt to climate change with real-time observation data and analytical capabilities.
They say that the future of agriculture is an era in which observation data is instantly utilized to control cultivation.
I believe that we must adapt our cultivation management to climate change, which has become more pronounced over the past few years," he said. As evidenced by the recent market price hikes for vegetables, it is impossible to maintain the same quality and yields using the same methods as in the past. Even if we carefully plan to take such preparations and measures because this is what we did last year, last year's data is no longer useful for this year.
We believe that the key to breakthrough lies in outdoor environmental measurements. If this trend is going to become stronger due to global warming, what we need now is real-time observation data and accurate analysis based on our past experience. Soratena Pro' is indispensable for this purpose," says Oda - san. Dandan Farm Kakeai Co., Ltd. will continue to make maximum use of weather data in order to continuously improve the high quality and productivity of its crops.
