Baton Delivers First Baton Hydro Mini Farm Unit to Panmore Welfare Complex in Kumatori, Osaka

Baton LLC, based in Minamiawaji, Hyogo Prefecture, has delivered the first installation of its indoor compact hydroponic cultivation system, the Baton Hydro Mini Farm, to Panmore, a multifunctional welfare complex in Kumatori, Osaka Prefecture. The Baton Hydro Mini Farm is a compact, vertical hydroponic cultivation system designed for easy installation in limited indoor spaces. By combining LED lighting optimized for plant growth with a hydroponic system, it creates a cultivation environment that is less affected by weather and seasonal changes. This delivery marks the first installation case for Baton Hydro Mini Farm. The initiative is intended to create daily work opportunities at welfare facilities, develop facility identity, support visitor tours, and create points of contact with the local community. It represents a first step toward proposing a new form of agriculture-welfare collaboration using indoor spaces. At the time of delivery, the system was installed with mini tomatoes, herbs, and other crops already under cultivation, and operational guidance was provided to facility staff. Going forward, Baton will examine new possibilities for use in welfare facilities, including production activities at Panmore, creation of work opportunities for users, visitor support inside and outside the facility, and community engagement. Baton has worked on using vacant spaces and reinterpreting local resources through the planning and sale of indoor hydroponic cultivation systems. In welfare facilities, hydroponic cultivation goes beyond agricultural work: it can support work opportunities for users, facility branding, external communication, and regional exchange. Because the system is fully indoor, it is less affected by weather or outdoor working conditions and can be introduced gradually within a facility. Baton sees it as a potential new option for welfare facilities pursuing agriculture-welfare collaboration. Unlike conventional large-scale plant factories, the Baton Hydro Mini Farm emphasizes starting small. By installing it in one corner of a facility and gradually building operations from cultivation and harvesting to sales and tours, each welfare facility can adopt the system according to its own goals and operating structure. Following the first delivery to Panmore, Baton plans to propose indoor hydroponic cultivation systems to daily care service providers, Type B continuous employment support offices, disability support facilities, organizations working on community coexistence, and businesses interested in agriculture-welfare collaboration. Key features of the Baton Hydro Mini Farm include a compact vertical design suitable for indoor installation; installation from approximately 1.4 meters wide, 0.6 meters deep, and 2.3 meters high; LED lighting specialized for plant growth; a cultivation environment less affected by weather and seasons; intended use in welfare facilities for work opportunities, tours, and community exchange; and potential use as a verification system before larger-scale deployment. The system supports crops such as mini tomatoes, strawberries, herbs, leafy vegetables, and edible flowers. Panmore is a welfare complex operated by the social welfare corporation Noborifuji in Kumatori, Sennan District, Osaka Prefecture. It provides child development support, after-school day services, welfare-type short stays, Type B continuous employment support, rehabilitation services, and other functions, supporting the daily lives of local residents from children to older adults. Its concept is “a lighthouse of hope that connects generations by heart and illuminates the community.” With this installation, the hydroponic system is expected to become part of new production activities inside the facility and a way to connect users, staff, and the local community. Baton LLC operates from Minamiawaji, Hyogo Prefecture and Tokyo, offering sales of indoor hydroponic cultivation systems, business planning using local resources, and proposals related to welfare, community development, and vacant space utilization. In selling hydroponic systems, the company also supports customers by clarifying installation objectives, designing operational concepts, and proposing facility-specific use cases.