Kamei Corporation Begins Asparagus Demonstration Cultivation in Next-Generation Agri-Business
Kamei Corporation has launched demonstration cultivation of asparagus in Zao Town, Miyagi Prefecture, utilizing the AI-powered smart agriculture system "Zero Agri." This marks a significant step in transitioning its next-generation agri-business concept from planning to full-scale implementation.
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- 📰 Published: May 2, 2026 at 02:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 17:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 17:38 (6 min after Collected)
Kamei Corporation (Headquarters: Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture; President: Akio Kamei) has commenced demonstration cultivation of asparagus in Zao Town, Katta District, Miyagi Prefecture, as part of its next-generation agri-business initiative. This project involves the introduction of "Zero Agri," an AI-powered smart agriculture system.
Demonstration Greenhouse
This demonstration cultivation marks the official start of the production process in the demonstration field, based on the previously announced next-generation agri-business concept. It is a crucial step in steadily transitioning the business from the conceptual stage to the implementation phase.
On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, from 13:00, asparagus seedlings were planted at the "ZAO AGRI BASE" demonstration greenhouse for the next-generation agri-business, located in Zao Town, Katta District, Miyagi Prefecture.
The demonstration greenhouse measures 9.0m x 40.0m (area 360㎡) and employs a raised-bed cultivation system (31.5m x 4 beds). A total of 320 seedlings were planted, with 80 seedlings per bed. In addition to 240 plants of the main variety "Zenyu Gulliver," 40 plants each of new Canadian varieties No. 002 and No. 006 were introduced, anticipating future variety selection.
This demonstration aims to comprehensively verify various aspects such as yield, quality, growth stability, and labor-saving effects by combining AI-powered automatic irrigation and fertilization control with raised-bed cultivation facilities. The plan is to connect these findings to future commercialization and the formation of an asparagus production area.
Overview of Seedling Planting Work
Date and Time
Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 13:00~
Location
Zao Town, Katta District, Miyagi Prefecture
Next-Generation Agri-Business Demonstration Greenhouse "ZAO AGRI BASE"
Demonstration Greenhouse Overview
・Greenhouse size: 9.0m x 40.0m (Area: 360.0㎡)
・Cultivation method: Raised-bed cultivation (31.5m x 4 beds)
・Number of seedlings planted: 80 per bed (Total 320 plants)
Asparagus Varieties
・Zenyu Gulliver: 240 plants
・New Canadian variety No. 002: 40 plants
・New Canadian variety No. 006: 40 plants
What is the Next-Generation Agri-Business?
This project is an initiative by Kamei Corporation, Zao Town, and Miyagi Sennan Agricultural Cooperative to address challenges faced by the agricultural sector, such as an aging workforce, labor shortages, and increased workload. The three parties collaborate to build a sustainable agricultural model through "Zero Agri" (※1), an AI-powered smart agriculture system.
By leveraging Zao Town's cool climate and abundant water resources, the project aims to achieve both stable production of high-quality asparagus and labor savings. The three parties signed a cooperation agreement on March 5, 2026, to promote the next-generation agri-business utilizing AI smart agriculture, and this project is the first concrete step in that endeavor.
Demonstration cultivation began in April 2026, verifying productivity improvement and workload reduction by utilizing AI-powered automatic irrigation and fertilization control and raised-bed bench kit (※2) facilities. Commercialization will proceed in stages from fiscal year 2027 onwards, with the future goal of establishing "Zao Asparagus" as a production area and expanding sales channels both domestically and internationally.
※1 Zero Agri https://www.zero-agri.jp/about/
※2 Asparagus Raised-Bed Bench Kit https://agriculture.kubota.co.jp/product/facility/asparagus-kit/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@KAMEI_CORPORATION
Official Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kamei_corporation/
Official X (formerly Twitter) https://x.com/kameiofficial
Demonstration Greenhouse
This demonstration cultivation marks the official start of the production process in the demonstration field, based on the previously announced next-generation agri-business concept. It is a crucial step in steadily transitioning the business from the conceptual stage to the implementation phase.
On Tuesday, April 28, 2026, from 13:00, asparagus seedlings were planted at the "ZAO AGRI BASE" demonstration greenhouse for the next-generation agri-business, located in Zao Town, Katta District, Miyagi Prefecture.
The demonstration greenhouse measures 9.0m x 40.0m (area 360㎡) and employs a raised-bed cultivation system (31.5m x 4 beds). A total of 320 seedlings were planted, with 80 seedlings per bed. In addition to 240 plants of the main variety "Zenyu Gulliver," 40 plants each of new Canadian varieties No. 002 and No. 006 were introduced, anticipating future variety selection.
This demonstration aims to comprehensively verify various aspects such as yield, quality, growth stability, and labor-saving effects by combining AI-powered automatic irrigation and fertilization control with raised-bed cultivation facilities. The plan is to connect these findings to future commercialization and the formation of an asparagus production area.
Overview of Seedling Planting Work
Date and Time
Tuesday, April 28, 2026, 13:00~
Location
Zao Town, Katta District, Miyagi Prefecture
Next-Generation Agri-Business Demonstration Greenhouse "ZAO AGRI BASE"
Demonstration Greenhouse Overview
・Greenhouse size: 9.0m x 40.0m (Area: 360.0㎡)
・Cultivation method: Raised-bed cultivation (31.5m x 4 beds)
・Number of seedlings planted: 80 per bed (Total 320 plants)
Asparagus Varieties
・Zenyu Gulliver: 240 plants
・New Canadian variety No. 002: 40 plants
・New Canadian variety No. 006: 40 plants
What is the Next-Generation Agri-Business?
This project is an initiative by Kamei Corporation, Zao Town, and Miyagi Sennan Agricultural Cooperative to address challenges faced by the agricultural sector, such as an aging workforce, labor shortages, and increased workload. The three parties collaborate to build a sustainable agricultural model through "Zero Agri" (※1), an AI-powered smart agriculture system.
By leveraging Zao Town's cool climate and abundant water resources, the project aims to achieve both stable production of high-quality asparagus and labor savings. The three parties signed a cooperation agreement on March 5, 2026, to promote the next-generation agri-business utilizing AI smart agriculture, and this project is the first concrete step in that endeavor.
Demonstration cultivation began in April 2026, verifying productivity improvement and workload reduction by utilizing AI-powered automatic irrigation and fertilization control and raised-bed bench kit (※2) facilities. Commercialization will proceed in stages from fiscal year 2027 onwards, with the future goal of establishing "Zao Asparagus" as a production area and expanding sales channels both domestically and internationally.
※1 Zero Agri https://www.zero-agri.jp/about/
※2 Asparagus Raised-Bed Bench Kit https://agriculture.kubota.co.jp/product/facility/asparagus-kit/
Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@KAMEI_CORPORATION
Official Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kamei_corporation/
Official X (formerly Twitter) https://x.com/kameiofficial