Harvesting rice underground

In Japan, the harvest has started but not in the fields but underground.

Otemachi Nomura building, where rice is planted underground

All 2 basements of Otemachi Nomura building in Tokyo commercial center have been turned into rice growing areas. A garden in the heart of one of the world's most populous cities.

Although grown indoors, rice plants still weigh heavily.

The idea of ​​growing rice on this 30-square-meter garden is the work of the human resources company Pasona with the aim of encouraging city youth to participate in the cultivation.

The output of this first harvest is only modest at 60 kg of rice, but the cultivation of underground rice has opened up new avenues for cultivation in Japan, such as planting fruits and many other foods. .

Taichi Sakaiya, former Minister of Economic Planning of Japan, said: ' Our society needs more agricultural products grown underground like this. Although their prices may be 100 times higher, they will certainly be accepted by the market . '

Following the idea of ​​growing underground plants, Pasona human resources company is also expanding its research into growing wet rice in greenhouses in order to bring benefits to farmers in the context of harsh weather due to the impact of dynamics of global climate change