Oct. 8-Nov. 2, 2020
Learn Online This Year!
Special Features Will Excite You. Apply now!
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak this year has forced the Japan Plant Factory Association (JPFA) to give up running its renowned Introductory Training Course on Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting (PFALs) as usual since JPFA gives top priority to the safety of prospective attendees.
However, JPFA is offering the course online in October in response to requests from indoor farmers, researchers and future entrepreneurs in the exciting and emerging field of PFALs, also known as vertical farms.
Since 2010, JPFA and Chiba University have organized various in-depth and practical learning events, including introductory and advanced courses. This introductory course in English scheduled for Oct. 8-Nov. 2 will cover what you need to know before or after starting the PFAL business or research.
LECTURES, VIRTUAL TOURS, EXHIBITIONS, INTERACTIVE OPPORTUNITIES and MORE!
The course will have academic and practical classes on such topics as the structure and functions of PFALs, environmental control, lighting, plant physiology, nutrient solutions, seedlings, the latest technologies for next-generation PFALs and business case studies on commercial large-scale PFALs.
In addition to lectures by academic professionals and representatives of PFAL operators, attendees can enjoy virtual tours to some commercial-size PFALs and exhibitions by PFAL companies.
All lectures are prerecorded ones, but attendees can send any questions via the specified app. Their questions will be the key to a live Q&A session that we will hold online. The Q&A session will certainly be one that you do not want to miss!
Never forget another important thing. While attendees cannot get together as in on-site courses, the app has a great feature that allows them to interact each other and with representatives of exhibitors, which include Japanese leading companies in the field.
On completion of the course, we can issue a certificate of participation, if you need.
1. Objective and Goal
-To offer the foundation for theory and experience-based practices, with a view to fostering academic and industrial development of next-generation PFALs.
-To facilitate development and dissemination of technically and economically sustainable PFALs, by providing first-hand technical and conceptual classes by a variety of professionals in practice in both academia and the PFAL industry.
2. Lecturers and Program
■Lecturers：
Chiba University / JPFA : T. Kozai, Y. Shinohara, T. Maruo, S. Tsukagoshi, N. Lu, O. Nunomura and E. Hayashi
The Ohio State University : C. Kubota
Lecturers from the PFAL industry : Representatives from 808 Factory and other companies
■Scheduled Program
(The schedule is subject to change without notice.)
■Networking Opportunities – JPFA Training App
The JPFA Training app will be used to maximize networking opportunities.
After the registration, you will receive a dedicated email one day before the start of the training, which uses Swapcard. The JPFA training app will be available on the desktop, and you will also be able to download it for iPhone and Android from the app stores.
3. Target Group: Who Will Benefit from the Training?
Enthusiastic current/potential indoor farmers who plan to start or have just started the PFAL business or research. They will gain understandings of the elementary theory and practice of PFALs, basic knowledge of cultivation and operational management, and keys to business success, etc.
The alumni of 2018 & 2019 JPFA training course are also welcomed to join.
In addition to viewing lectures and networking with other enthusiastic attendees, there is an exhibition opportunity through the training app.
For more, please refer to the table below.
4. How to apply
■Registration
After receiving the application form, we will confirm your application category before starting the payment procedure.
▶For first-time attendees, please click here.
If you are a JPFA member, please enter the password to choose the fee: JPY 35,000. The password is written in the email entitled “【JPFA News】NPO植物工場研究会ニュースNo.107: JPFA国際研修のご案内 / Registration is Open for JPFA Online Training 2020!” sent to your organization’s contact person of JPFA membership.
▶For the alumni of 2018 & 2019 training courses, please visit the URL in the email sent to all the alumni.
If you are a JPFA member, please enter the password to choose the fee: JPY 15,000. The password is written in the email entitled “【JPFA News】NPO植物工場研究会ニュースNo.107: JPFA国際研修のご案内 / Registration is Open for JPFA Online Training 2020!” sent to your organization’s contact person of JPFA membership.
▶For exhibitors, please click here.
If you are not a JPFA organization member but would like to exhibit, please apply for the training course as an attendee first.
If you cannot access the registration website provided by select type, please use the attached Excel form and send it to training@npoplantfactory.org.
* Once your application is approved, you will automatically receive a receipt via Stripe. Or, if you selected “I’d like to pay by bank transfer” as your payment option at the checkout, we will send you an invoice soon. If there is anything to confirm, we will contact you within 3 to 5 working days.
After your registration and payment have been completed, we will let you know. An invitation email
will be sent to you one day before the training course starts.
■Schedule
For first-time attendees and alumni of 2018 & 2019 training courses
(1) Early October
Every attendee will receive an invitation to the JPFA training app by email. Attendees will be able to edit their profiles, enjoy networking and check exhibitor information.
(2) From Oct. 8
Lecture videos will be available for viewing.
(3) In late October
Q&A discussion videos with the lecturers will be added to the app.
*Notifications on the app will be updated as appropriate.
For Exhibitors
Upon the completion of registration, we will inform you of the procedure.
■Cancellation policy for first-time attendees and alumni
If any participant cancels the training course on/before Sept. 17, 2020 we will return the fee
except for 15% of the payment (as a cancellation fee). If the cancellation is made on/after Sept. 18, 2020, the fee shall be paid in full.
In most cases, instead of canceling, you may transfer your registration to another person without penalty before Oct., 2020.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Japan Plant Factory Association
The Japan Plant Factory Association (JPFA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 2010 and is devoted to academic and business advancements in the global industry of plant factory/controlled environment agriculture. Our mission is to develop and disseminate sustainable systems that can address global challenges: food, the environment, energy, resources and people’s health. Based in a Chiba University campus in Kashiwanoha, a smart city area in Japan, we manage around 20 R&D projects, workshops, training courses, etc. with international industry-academia collaborations.
■How to Be A Member:
Please fill in this application form and send it to us.
For more, please visit the JPFA website.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
Nozomi Hiramatsu / Eri Hayashi
International Relations and Consulting,
Japan Plant Factory Association（JPFA）
E-mail: training@npoplantfactory.org
Tel: +81-4-7137-8318
