Year-round strawberries farming for Tokyo urban offices

In a bustling urban jungle like Tokyo, skyscrapers and neon lights dominate the skyline, leaving little room for greenery. But that’s set to change with the latest initiative from Nihon Sales. It has unveiled its “City Farming” initiative, which promises fresh strawberries all year round, right within urban offices.

While the urban agriculture movement is no stranger to rooftop gardens and wall-grown salads, City Farming brings a new twist. Rather than the typical gardening spaces, Nihon Sales is talking about in-built plant factories within living and working spaces. A breakthrough that ensures fresh strawberries are available every day, irrespective of external weather conditions.

This venture is not a solo endeavor. Nihon Sales has previously crafted spaces like “Bun Kitsu” and “Hakone Motobako”. However, for City Farming, they’ve teamed up with Nisshinbo Holdings Inc. This company had already gained attention with their pioneering efforts in mass cultivation of strawberries in controlled environments to creating “sustainable urban living and vibrant, prosperous communities.”

Okamura, known for their stellar designs in office and educational spaces, is another collaborator. Together, they plan to transform mundane office spaces into green, productive environments. Beyond aesthetics, these green spaces are designed to uplift employees’ well-being, both mentally and physically. Imagine grabbing a freshly picked strawberry from your office plant while taking a quick break from that exhaustive spreadsheet. It’s a delightful interplay of productivity, health, and sustainability.

With trials set in Okamura’s office spaces and service launch anticipated by January 2024, the City Farming initiative sets a bright precedent. Urban areas, often disconnected from the agricultural pulse of the countryside, can now enjoy a slice of farming life. Nihon Sales and Okamura have a vision: targeting 1,000 companies to embrace this green shift in the next three years.