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JPFA International Symposium on Plant Factory
■JPFA International Symposium on Plant Factory
Toward a sustainable future, we aim for open discussion and international co-creation on the issues such as utilization, roles, technological challenges, and direction of plant factories with artificial lighting (PFALs) that possess diverse purposes and applications. Additionally, there is potential for the use of PFALs in social activities as part of the global ecosystem and in creating varied and flexible food and plant production systems. These topics will be covered through open discussions and international collaboration at smart city Kashiwa-no-ha, with a view to achieving “staying healthy simply by living.”
- About
- Speakers
- Program
- Exhibition
- Registration
- Trainings
10:15 – 17:30 on Monday, August 31, 2026 (Reception at 18:00)
9:30 – 17:00 on Tuesday, September 1, 2026
■Venue
Kashiwa-no-ha Conference Center (2-minute walk from Kashiwanoha Campus Station on the Tsukuba Express Line)
■Organizer
Japan Plant Factory Association
■In cooperation with
Center for Environment, Health and Field Sciences, Chiba University
Research Center for Space Agriculture and Horticulture, Chiba University
■Supported by
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Chiba Prefecture
Kashiwa City
■Contents
-Speeches
-Panel discussions
-Poster presentations (with Poster Awards)…Call for Posters
-Exhibitions, etc.
■Registration Fees
【JPFA Members】 JPY 25,000/person
【Non-members】 JPY 60,000/person
【Reception】 JPY 8,500/person (Reception will be held in the same venue from 18:00 on August 31, 2026.)
* If you are a student and wish to participate, please contact us at symposium@npoplantfactory.org first.
* The reception is not included in the scope of sponsorship.
■On-site Participation Benefit
– All participants will receive a copy of the lecture materials.
– Real-time automated transcription and translation will be provided during the session.
– Free participation in Kashiwanoha Smart City Tour scheduled for the morning of September 1, 2026（It may be subject to change or cancellation depending on the circumstances.)
– Free participation in the Onsite Tour of plant factories and greenhouses at Chiba University Kashiwanoha Campus scheduled for September 2, 2026
■ Registration
Please register using the symposium registration button below.
Register
■Committees
Symposium Committees
If you would like to receive the latest news and updates about our upcoming symposium, sign up by clicking the “Keep informed” button below.
Keep informed
Please refer to the previous JPFA International Symposium on Plant Factory in 2025.
JPFA植物工場国際シンポジウム日本語サイトは こちらからご確認ください。
Hiroki Koga
"Vertical Farming Today: From Research to Industry"
Co-founder and CEO,
Oishii Farm
Bio
Leo Marcelis
"Dynamic Light Control in Plant Factories"
Professor and Head of Chair Group Horticulture and Product Physiology, Wageningen University
Bio
Katsuya Tsuchihara
"The Formation of Urban Life Science Hubs: Integrating Plant Factories and Community Planning for Next-Generation Health and Sustainability"
Board Member, Director, Exploratory Oncology Research and Clinical Trial Center (EPOC), National Cancer Center Japan
Bio
Eri Hayashi
"Plant Factory Innovations: Paving the Way for Sustainable Food, Human Health, and Urban Systems"
President, Japan Plant Factory Association
Bio
Tisha Livingston
"Best Idea Wins: Reimagining Farming at Scale"
Co-founder, 80 Acres Farms
Bio
Eriko Hibi
Director, The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Liaison Office in Japan
Shoko Hikosaka
"From Food to Pharma, From Earth to Space: Plant Factories as a Platform for Sustainable Bioproduction"
Professor, Graduate School of Horticulture, Chiba University
Bio
Roel Janssen
"From Photons to Profit: 15 Years of Building the Vertical Farming Industry...and What Comes Next"
Chief Business Development Officer, eternal.ag
Bio
Claudia Philpot
"(EDEN) LUNA Test Facility: A Highly Integrated Plant Cultivation and Processing Facility for the Moon"
Project Manager for EDEN LUNA, German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Bio
Giuseppina Pennisi
“Resource Use Efficiency and Environmental Impact of Plant Factories”
ALMA MATER STUDIORUM University of Bologna
Bio
Murat Kacira
"Optimizing Air Distribution to Achieve Environmental Uniformity Enhances Resource Use Efficiency in Vertical Farming"
Professor, Controlled Environment Agriculture Center, The University of Arizona
Bio
Noriho Fukuzawa
"Plant-made Pharmaceuticals and Plant Factories"
Senior Researcher,
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Bio
Mexx Holweg
"From Photons to Pharmaceutical Compounds: Optimising Light Environments for Medicinal Cannabis Production"
Technical Solutions Manager & Crop Advisor, Dutch Lightning Innovations
Bio
Nagateru Nozawa
CEO,
MIRAI CO.,LTD
Bio
More speakers to be announced soon.
Please refer to the list of speakers from the previous symposium here.
Day 1: Monday, August 31, 2026
| Time (JST) | Speakers | Programs | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:30 | Doors open/Check-in | ||
| 10:15 | Opening | ||
| Guest Remarks | |||
| 10:50 | Eri Hayashi | Plant Factory Innovations: Paving the Way for Sustainable Food, Human Health, and Urban Systems | EN |
| 11:25 | Leo Marcelis | Dynamic Light Control in Plant Factories | EN |
| 12:00 | Luncheon Seminar/Lunch Break Mitsui Fudosan ※Complimentary boxed lunches will be available at the foyer. |
||
| 13:15 | One-minute Poster PresentationsⅠ | EN | |
| 13:30 | Three-minute Exhibitor Presentation | EN | |
| 13:50 | Short Break | ||
| 14:05 | Katsuya Tsuchihara | The Formation of Urban Life Science Hubs: Integrating Plant Factories and Community Planning for Next-Generation Health and Sustainability |
EN |
| 14:40 | Eriko Hibi | EN | |
| 15:15 | PosterⅠ and Exhibiton Viewing Time / Short Break at Foyer | ||
| 15:50 | Noriho Fukuzawa | Plant-made Pharmaceuticals and Plant Factories | EN |
| 16:20 | Mexx Holweg | From Photons to Pharmaceutical Compounds: Optimising Light Environments for Medicinal Cannabis Production | EN |
| Closing/Networking | |||
| - 20:00 | Reception At the same venue. ※Pre-registration is required. |
Day 2: Tuesday, September 1, 2026
| Time (JST) | Speakers | Programs | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 | Doors open/Check-in | ||
| 9:30 | Opening | ||
| 9:35 | Hiroki Koga | Vertical Farming Today: From Research to Industry | JP |
| 10:10 | Nagateru Nozawa Katashi Kai |
Panel Discussion | JP |
| 11:00 | Short Break | ||
| 11:15 | Roel Janssen | From Photons to Profit: 15 Years of Building the Vertical Farming Industry...and What Comes Next | EN |
| 11:50 | Giuseppina Pennisi | Resource Use Efficiency and Environmental Impact of Plant Factories | EN |
| 12:25 | One-minute Poster PresentationsⅡ | EN | |
| 12:40 | Luncheon Seminar/Lunch Break Macnica, Inc. ※Complimentary boxed lunches will be available at the foyer. |
||
| 13:50 | Tisha Livingston | Best Idea Wins: Reimagining Farming at Scale | EN |
| 14:25 | Murat Kacira | Optimizing Air Distribution to Achieve Environmental Uniformity Enhances Resource Use Efficiency in Vertical Farming | EN |
| 14:55 | PosterⅡ and Exhibiton Viewing Time / Short Break at Foyer | ||
| 15:30 | Shoko Hikosaka | From Food to Pharma, From Earth to Space: Plant Factories as a Platform for Sustainable Bioproduction | EN |
| 16:05 | Claudia Philpot | (EDEN) LUNA Test Facility: A Highly Integrated Plant Cultivation and Processing Facility for the Moon | EN |
| 16:40 | Poster Award Ceremony | ||
| 17:00 | Closing |
* Real-time automated transcription and translation will be provided during the session.
July 8, 2026
Exhibition Opportunities at ISPF 2026
The third JPFA International Symposium on Plant Factory (ISPF) 2026 is neither a commercial trade show nor a traditional academic conference. It is a unique symposium that bridges industry and academia, bringing together global experts, companies, and researchers involved in plant factories.We invite organizations to participate as exhibitors and contribute to the exchange of knowledge and innovation in this rapidly evolving field.
Application Information
We are now accepting applications for exhibitors, including exhibition booths at the symposium venue and luncheon seminars.
Please review the exhibitor guidelines before submitting your application.Exhibition booth locations will be assigned in principle on a first-come, first-served basis.
We encourage early applications to secure your preferred placement.
Exhibitor Guidelines Call for Exhibitors
After submitting your application, the ISPF Secretariat will contact you with further details regarding booth arrangements, payment, and logistics.
How to Apply for the Symposium
Apply by clicking on the relevant button below.
The deadline for the symposium registration is Tuesday, August 25, 2026(JST). Registration will be closed once the number of applicants reaches the maximum capacity.
- ※The fee will be based on your membership status during the symposium. Please note that even if you are a member at the time of application, you will be charged the difference if you are not a member at the symposium.
- ※If you wish to become a JPFA member with your symposium registration, you can attend the symposium at the member rate. Please complete the membership application form below.
Exhibition and Advertisement
We are now accepting applications for exhibitors, including exhibition booths at the symposium venue and luncheon seminars.
Please review the exhibitor guidelines below before submitting your application.Exhibition booth locations will be assigned in principle on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to apply as early as possible.
Poster Presentation (with Poster Awards)
■ThemesResearch on Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting (PFALs) and related topics
Poster Awards will be presented to selected outstanding posters.
Deadline Extended: June 23, 2026
JPFA Membership
Check here for the JFPA's membership system.
Accommodation Info
Regarding accommodations, please refer to Accommodation List.
JPFA Training Course on PFALs (September 3–4, 2026)
The JPFA PFAL Training Course will be held on September 3–4, 2026, immediately following the Third JPFA International Symposium on Plant Factory (ISPF2026).The program consists of on‑demand video lectures, onsite lectures, and exclusive site visits to commercial PFALs, offering participants practical and comprehensive insights into plant factory operations in Japan.
■Program
・On‑demand Video Lectures (Before and After Onsite Training)
Participants will have access to more than ten video lectures (approx. 11 hours total), covering PFAL fundamentals, cultivation, environmental control, and business aspects.
・Onsite Lectures – September 3 (AM)
University researchers and industry experts will deliver lectures on PFAL technologies, cultivation and management, environmental control, and business models..
・Site Visits – September 3 (PM) & September 4 Visits to four commercial PFALs, including a full‑day tour to Shizuoka on September 4.
These visits provide opportunities to observe real operations and learn directly from PFAL operators.
■Fees
JPFA Member: JPY 185,000
Non-member: JPY 260,000
(Includes onsite lectures, site visits, transportation during visits, and access to on‑demand video lectures. Accommodation and meals are not included.)
■Main Location: JPFA facilities at Chiba University, Kashiwanoha Campus
■Format: Online pre-learning + 2-day onsite training
Reference: 2025 Program
For reference, the 2025 training program included:
・Visits to several commercial PFALs
・Expert lectures on PFAL technologies and business models
・Online pre-learning materials
The 2026 program will follow a similar structure with updated content.
▷ Overview of the scheduled visits for training 2025
