Sumitomo Chemical to Start Full-scale Rooftop Cultivation Testing in Urban Farming Project in Singapore

Aug. 17, 2017

As part of the urban farming development project which is currently underway jointly with the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), Sumitomo Chemical will begin full-scale test cultivation of farm produce on the rooftop of AVA's research facility this month.

Under the project, AVA and Sumitomo Chemical have been working closely to develop a model for urban farming on rooftops of buildings, based on Japan's proprietary technology, against the backdrop of AVA promoting urban farming to enhance food supply resilience given the limited availability of land in Singapore, and Sumitomo Chemical accelerating agriculture-related business development extensively and globally.

The test cultivation started initially with greenhouses on the ground in 2015, where it was examined whether a technology already commercialized in Japan could be adopted in the tropical climate of Singapore, specifically a hydroponic system of Kaneko Seeds Co., another participant in the project. As the test proved favorable, it has been decided that test cultivation
should be launched on a fuller scale in a greenhouse newly built on the rooftop of AVA's post-harvest technology centre, thus taking steps forward towards yielding farm produce with higher productivity and better quality. In the original greenhouses on the ground, test cultivation will continue mainly in an attempt to grow leafy vegetables with a wider variety of produce.

Receiving continued support from the Ministry of National Development of Singapore and the Singapore Economic Development Board, Sumitomo Chemical will continue to assume overall responsibility for overseeing the entire project in coordination with Sumitomo Chemical Asia Pte Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, which engages in the day-to-day operation of the project in Singapore. Other participating entities in the project include Kaneko Seeds from Japan, and AVA and Ngee Ann Polytechnic, a higher education institution, from Singapore.

Sumitomo Chemical will look into further specifics for the project, including a produce distribution system to be established and thereby establish a model for sustainable urban farming by 2018 or so, as an operational platform based on which the Company will expand the urban farming business in Asia and elsewhere in the world.

Outline of Hydroponic Facilities

Location	Rooftop of Post-Harvest Technology Centre, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority
Site area	265 square meters
Facilities	Greenhouse, a hydroponic system (control equipment, five hydroponic beds)

Roles of Project Participants

Sumitomo Chemical	Overall management of the project
Sumitomo Chemical Asia	Project operation and test cultivation
Kaneko Seeds	Hydroponic system setup, cultivation technology support and supply of seeds
Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore	Test cultivation and provision of site
Ngee Ann Polytechnic	Technical consultation about test cultivation

Profile of Companies and Organizations

Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.

Head office	Tokyo, Japan
President	Masakazu Tokura
Business	Petrochemicals & Plastics, Energy & Functional Materials, IT-related Chemicals, Health & Crop Sciences, Pharmaceuticals, and Others

Sumitomo Chemical Asia Pte Ltd

Head office	Singapore
President	Satoshi Takazawa, Managing Executive Officer of Sumitomo Chemical
Business	Manufacturing, sales and marketing of petrochemical products and others, and regional headquarters for the Southeast Asia, India, and Oceania region

Kaneko Seeds Co., Ltd.

Head office	Maebashi City, Gunma, Japan
President	Masahiko Kaneko
Business	Seeds and seedlings, garden supplies, landscaping, greenhouse and agricultural equipment, agrochemicals, hydroponic systems, greenhouse horticulture equipment, and agricultural civil engineering

Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore

A government organization responsible for ensuring a resilient supply of safe food, safeguarding the health and welfare of animals, safeguarding the health of plants and facilitating agri-trade.

Ngee Ann Polytechnic

Inaugurated in 1963, one of Singapore's leading institutions of higher education, offering 49 full-time courses through its nine academic schools, such as the School of Life Sciences & Chemical Technology.

Ministry of National Development (MND)

MND is Singapore's key government ministry responsible for national land use planning and development.

Singapore Economic Development Board

The Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) is the lead government agency for planning and executing strategies to enhance Singapore's position as a global business center. Its mission is to create for Singapore, sustainable economic growth with vibrant business and good job opportunities.

Contact

Corporate Communications Dept.
27-1, Shinkawa 2-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-8260, Japan
TEL: +81-3-5543-5102 FAX: +81-3-5543-5901