With this pioneering initiative, the city of Toyohashi, which has the highest basil production in the country, is at the forefront of agricultural innovation.
In the heart of the city of Toyohashi, amidst lush basil fields, a new dawn in agriculture has come with the opening of the Big O Center. Led by the horticultural agricultural cooperative Toyohashi Greenhouse, this cutting-edge venture represents a decisive shift toward automation and efficiency in basil cultivation.
Gone are the days of manual sorting and packaging as the Big O Center is a beacon of innovation and boasts six sorting and packaging lines and three cold storage facilities covering an impressive 1,697 square meters. This marks a significant departure from traditional practices, in which labor shortages have long plagued the agricultural sector.
With the ability to sort basil by size, pack it and place it neatly into ready-to-ship cartons, the facility operates with minimal human intervention, using the power of the equipment to optimize productivity.
During the opening ceremony, Mr. Enoshima, director of the cooperative, emphasized the center’s role in not only supporting local farmers, but also in ensuring that basil is delivered to consumers that meets the highest standards of safety and quality. The city of Toyohashi celebrates its 90th anniversary. The Big O Center symbolizes a new era of agricultural excellence and sustainability.
The event was attended by distinguished guests including Mr. Yoakiwa, Member of the Prefectural Assembly, Mr. Nakane, Director of the East Mikawa Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Bureau, Mr. Kaneda, Deputy Mayor of Toyohashi City, and Mr. Kaneda, Deputy Mayor of Toyohashi City. Tanaka, executive director of the JA Aichi Economic Federation, who praised the cooperative’s efforts to revolutionize basil cultivation.
As participants toured the new facility and witnessed the automated sorting process first-hand, it became clear that the Big O Center is more than just a building, but a testament to the City of Toyohashi’s commitment to innovation and advancement in agriculture.
The completion of the Big O Center marks an important milestone in the development of basil cultivation not only in the city of Toyohashi, but throughout the country. Through automation and advanced technology, the facility not only solves labor problems but also produces safer, higher-quality basil for consumers. As the agricultural landscape continues to evolve, initiatives like the Big O Center serve as a beacon of hope, guiding the industry toward a more sustainable and efficient future.
