While many industries and automakers are responding to the climate change trend by turning to clean energy vehicles and using recycled plastics for various parts, Toyota’s approach goes beyond that and deserves a thumbs-up.
Apart from going green in their production lines, the company doesn’t let the heat and carbon dioxide emissions from their car manufacturing plants go to waste. Recently, it has partnered with farmers to build greenhouses within their Kamigo Plant, where the manufacturing of Toyota Crown and Lexus take place, to grow strawberries and the Myochi Plant for tomato cultivation.
Hiroshi Okajima, General Manager of R&D and Engineering Management Division, shared that Toyota’s aim is to use their expertise to enhance agricultural efficiency. The company recognizes that agriculture heavily relies on the surrounding environment, and by implementing the Toyota Production System (TPS), it can help increase farmer’s production and profits. The system also makes use of waste from car manufacturing, including heat and carbon dioxide emissions, which are essential for plant growth.
The collaboration between engineers and farmers yields agricultural output 1.5 times higher than traditional farming due to efficient multi-tiered cultivation. The produce isn’t turned into a profit-driven venture; rather, Toyota distributes it to employees in their cafeteria.
Another key factor for the success is lighting, as explained by Katsuichi Minami, Production Engineering Manager. For strawberries, the light must neither be too dim nor too bright, and LED technology is used to achieve this. Pink LED lights are chosen because green light isn’t necessary for plant photosynthesis, and ultraviolet light is used to combat bacteria, reducing the need of pesticides.
The secret to the delightful sweetness of strawberries and tomatoes, as revealed by Katsuoiji Minami from the Engine Casting Division, lies in accurately measuring the temperature difference between day and night. This allows precise timing and the right amount of water and fertilizer for the plants to grow perfectly.
Growing plants in the factory not only enhances the surroundings, but also brings happiness to employees who have found joy in observing the plants grow. They eagerly await the harvest and enjoy the produce as if it were from their own backyard. Thanks to the new engineering perspective, Toyota has implemented a truly “systematic” and “complete” approach.
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