In Kashiwazaki, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, entrepreneurs began using the waste heat from their incinerator to grow bananas.
Shimoda Industry Co. The company's goal is to transport the first batch of its own bananas by 2020.
The Kashiwazaki city government, local financial institutions, and other self-employed people have also joined in the cultivation of tropical fruits. Bananas are grown on Shimoda Farm. This orchard is located at Shimoda's Industrial Waste Processing Plant. The company built two greenhouses with an area of about 1.1 m².
Each greenhouse costs about 100 million yen (equivalent to $ 926 thousand) with 200 seedlings about 1.2 m high. The neighboring incinerator heats the circulating water in the greenhouse to maintain the temperature in the greenhouse at about 24 ° C, which is necessary for the growth of bananas.
Company president Akira Shimoda thought of this idea when he heard a woman from the Philippines say that the bananas she ate in Japan tasted terrible.
Almost all bananas sold domestically are imported after harvest, while they are still green. They ripen during transportation, which causes a deterioration in their taste. Assuming that there is a demand for bananas grown domestically, the company decided to try growing fruits in greenhouses using waste heat.
Planting began in August and the seeds of the Gros Michel seedlings were used. These seedlings were supplied by an agricultural company located in Okayama. The company is planting a very popular quality product - Okayama Monji bananas. The variety has a bright color and rich taste. Breeders improved the variety to make it hardy.
The first deliveries are scheduled for June 2020. If production goes on schedule, the company expects to collect 1 thousand bananas per week or 50 thousand per year. They plan to sell bananas for about 700 yen per piece, which is $ 6.5.
