Farmship
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Farmship does
Farmship is a Tokyo-based agritech company founded in March 2014 that operates an integrated plant factory value chain spanning contract R&D, business development support, and produce distribution. The group's core technological asset is photosynthesis engineering, augmented by proprietary AI capabilities including AICES (AI Cultivation Evaluation System) for optimizing microalgae and plant cultivation, LSTM-based market price prediction achieving R²=0.95 for 1-week-ahead vegetable prices, and CNN-based non-contact lettuce weight estimation. Supporting infrastructure includes FARMPORT (a cloud plant factory management platform), BCUM mass-production cell units, and BlockFARM container-type plant factory modules deployed across a research park in Numazu, Shizuoka.
The company generates revenue through three streams: produce distribution (wholesale of plant factory vegetables under brands VEGE MONSTER, FRESH HERB, and 香る Salad plus business-use bulk and field-grown produce); contract R&D services (basic evaluation, cultivation recipe development, mass production design, and operational support leveraging photosynthesis expertise); and business development support (technology consulting, investment planning, plant design/construction, and sales support for plant factory ventures). Its distribution network reaches approximately 10,000 retail locations across Japan's Kanto-Kansai region, supplying major supermarkets, restaurant chains, convenience stores, and food processors.
Since August 2023, RYODEN (formerly Ryoden Shoji) has held a 77.7% controlling stake, making Farmship a consolidated subsidiary. Production scale is delivered through joint ventures—MGC Farmix with Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (2.6 tons/day of leafy vegetables in Shirakawa, Japan's largest fully artificial-light plant factory) and BlockFarm LLC (60% RYODEN / 40% Farmship, 1 ton/day of spinach and leafy vegetables in Numazu). As of May 2026, the company reported 40 employees (14 full-time, 4 contract, 22 part-time) and registered capital of JPY 100 million, with overseas operations anchored by a minority stake in Pt. Vertical Farm Indonesia and an API presence on Singapore's WAGRI platform.
Farmship firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Farmship
- Legal name
- 株式会社ファームシップ
- Website
- https://farmship.co.jp
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Farmship industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indoor Vertical Farming / Plant Factory Produce
- NAICS
- Vegetable and Melon Farming (1112), Agricultural Implement Manufacturing (33311)
- SIC
- Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Agricultural Services (700), Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Farm Technology Enablement & Data Integration Advisory (FMIS/ERP, IoT, Decision Support) (AFACAJAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Greenhouse Vegetable Production (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leafy Greens) (AFAGAHAA), Farm Finance, Input Procurement & Risk Tools (Budgeting, Inventory, Insurance Links) (AFAAAFAO), Farm Robot Fleet Management & Operations Software (Dispatch, monitoring, OTA updates) (AFAAAGAH)
Keywords
Where Farmship is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
Farmship business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Produce Distribution (青果流通): Wholesale distribution of vegetables produced in plant factories, including brand products (VEGE MONSTER, FRESH HERB, 香るサラダ), business-use bulk products, and field-grown produce. Primary revenue stream with domestic top market share in plant factory vegetables.
- Contract R&D Services (受託開発): R&D services leveraging plant factory cultivation know-how, including photosynthesis optimization, rare crop cultivation development, and photosynthetic organism culture. Services include basic evaluation, cultivation recipe development, mass production design, and operational support.
- Business Development (事業開発): New business development support including technology consulting, investment planning, partner coordination, plant design/construction, and sales support for plant factory ventures.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Brand products (VEGE MONSTER) - Retail packaged |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Business-use bulk products |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cut lettuce for business use |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | OEM/Private Label |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Farmship product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Farmship operates plant factories, provides AI-driven cultivation optimization and contract R&D for plant factory operators, and distributes plant-factory-grown vegetables (under brands including VEGE MONSTER, FRESH HERB, Sweet Kale, and Kaoru Salad) along with bulk and cut produce to retailers, restaurants, and food processors across Japan. Its offering covers the full agricultural value chain: photosynthesis engineering R&D, container plant factory hardware (BlockFARM, BCUM), the FARMPORT IoT cloud platform, the AICES AI cultivation evaluation system, and B2B produce wholesale.
Product overview
Farmship operates as a comprehensive agricultural technology company offering plant factory solutions, AI-driven cultivation optimization, and produce distribution. Core products include FARMPORT® cloud management platform, AICES AI cultivation evaluation system, and BCUM mass production cell units. Consumer-facing brands include VEGE MONSTER, FRESH HERB, and 香る Salad product lines. The company provides end-to-end services from contract R&D through produce distribution, with their Next-Generation Agriculture Development Center in Shizuoka focusing on photosynthesis engineering and AI applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- VEGE MONSTER（ベジモンスター）: 当社オリジナル個包装商品シリーズ。フリルレタス、グリーンリーフ、サンチュ、ケール、オークリーフ、ロメインレタス、サニーレタス等产品。苦み・えぐみが少なく小家伙부터大人まで美味しく食べられる。
- FRESH HERB（フレッシュハーブ）
- 香るサラダ
Products and services
- VEGE MONSTER (ベジモンスター) Original Farmship consumer brand of individually packaged plant-factory-grown leafy vegetables (frill lettuce, green leaf, sunchu, kale, oak leaf, romaine, sunny lettuce) sold in retail supermarkets; positioned as child-friendly with reduced bitterness and no pesticides.
- FRESH HERB (フレッシュハーブ)
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 36% energy reduction in plant factory operations through AI-optimized control
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Farmship
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Farmship technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability7 records
Feature7 records
Farmship partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.
- ブロックファーム合同会社 (BlockFarm)coreJoint venture with RYODEN (60%) and Farmship (40%) established October 2020. Operates next-generation plant factory in Numazu, Shizuoka producing 1 ton/day of spinach and leafy vegetables. World's first closed plant factory achieving large-scale spinach mass production.
- 株式会社リバネスminorBusiness partnership for human resources development program for plant factory managers and workers.
- MGCファーミックス株式会社coreJoint venture with Mitsubishi Gas Chemical for operating largest-scale fully artificial lighting plant factory in Japan. Located in Shirakawa, Fukushima with 2.6 tons/day capacity.
- 株式会社晃商majorPartnership with Kobe-type company (restaurants, onsen, pachinko operator) for plant factory business. Established Nabari City Farm demonstration facility; planning 15,000-plant scale commercial facility in Mie Prefecture.
- 豊橋技術科学大学coreLong-standing R&D partnership for AI cultivation control, environmental measurement, and data utilization. Joint research under NEDO and JST programs. Board member Usami Yoshihisa serves as visiting professor at university's Advanced Agriculture Bio-Research Center.
- 株式会社RYODEN (Exhibition Partnership)majorFarmship exhibits within RYODEN booth at Bio Japan 2025 to present AICES platform and R&D services.
- WAGRI (農業データ連携基盤)majorPublic cloud platform providing agricultural data APIs. Farmship provides agricultural market price prediction API services through WAGRI, integrating weather, market, and satellite data.
- ハウス食品株式会社majorJoint product development of 'Kaoru Salad' (herb-seasoned salad) products. Collaboration on cold-resistant herb development enabling year-round production.
- Pt. Vertical Farm IndonesiaminorEquity investment and joint venture for plant factory operations in Indonesia. 30% stake in Indonesian company operating BlockFARM for baby leaf production.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Farmship competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Spread Co., Ltd. Spread is Japan's largest plant factory lettuce producer (Techno Farm Kyoto) and operates a vertically integrated indoor farming business. Directly comparable to Farmship in plant factory vegetable production, B2B distribution to Japanese retailers, and pursuit of automation/AI cultivation efficiency.
- Mirai Co., Ltd. Mirai operates one of the world's largest plant factories (Miyagi Prefecture) producing lettuce under the 'Mirai Salad' brand for Japanese retailers and food service. Closely comparable to Farmship in artificial-light plant factory lettuce production, B2B retail distribution, and pursuit of cost reduction through technology.
- Plenty Unlimited Inc. Plenty is a US vertical farming operator using AI-driven plant science and indoor vertical farms to produce leafy greens. Comparable to Farmship in vertical farming technology, AI cultivation optimization, and B2B produce distribution, though operating in a different geography.
- AeroFarms: AeroFarms operates indoor vertical farms producing leafy greens with proprietary aeroponics and data-driven growing algorithms. Comparable to Farmship in controlled-environment agriculture, AI-driven cultivation, and B2B retail distribution of branded leafy greens.
- Kobashi Industries Co., Ltd. Kobashi Industries manufactures agricultural machinery and is also an investor in Farmship (2019 funding round). Operates in adjacent plant factory space through agritech equipment and partnerships, making it a comparable peer in Japan's controlled-environment agriculture equipment ecosystem.
- Infarm (Indoor Urban Farming GmbH): Infarm builds modular vertical farming units deployed in retail and distribution centers, with AI-controlled growing recipes. Comparable to Farmship's BlockFARM container model, IoT cultivation control, and B2B retail channel focus, though Infarm emphasizes in-store farming rather than centralized production.
Emerging players
- Oishii Farm Corporation: Oishii operates premium indoor strawberry farms in the US using controlled-environment agriculture and emphasizes pesticide-free, high-flavor produce for premium retail. Comparable to Farmship in plant factory technology for premium/high-value crops and branded B2B retail distribution, though focused on strawberries.
- 80 Acres Farms: 80 Acres Farms operates indoor vertical farms with proprietary IoT and AI cultivation systems producing leafy greens and herbs for US retailers. Comparable to Farmship in AI-driven controlled-environment agriculture, branded produce lines, and retail distribution model.
- Crop One Holdings: Crop One operates large-scale vertical farms and partners with major food groups (e.g., Emirates Flight Catering). Comparable to Farmship in large-scale plant factory operations, corporate partnership/JV structure, and focus on leafy greens/culinary herbs for institutional customers.
- NTT AgriTechnology: NTT Agri is the agricultural technology arm of NTT Group in Japan, providing smart agriculture solutions, AI, and data platforms for farming and plant factory operators. Comparable to Farmship as a Japan-based agritech player developing AI/IoT cultivation tools, though NTT Agri is broader and not a plant factory operator itself.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Farmship social profiles
Digital presenceFarmship financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Farmship leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Farmship subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries6 records
Farmship funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds5 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Farmship M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments2 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Farmship
What does Farmship do?
Farmship operates plant factories, provides AI-driven cultivation optimization and contract R&D for plant factory operators, and distributes plant-factory-grown vegetables (under brands including VEGE MONSTER, FRESH HERB, Sweet Kale, and Kaoru Salad) along with bulk and cut produce to retailers, restaurants, and food processors across Japan. Its offering covers the full agricultural value chain: photosynthesis engineering R&D, container plant factory hardware (BlockFARM, BCUM), the FARMPORT IoT cloud platform, the AICES AI cultivation evaluation system, and B2B produce wholesale.
Is Farmship a public or private company?
Farmship is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Farmship founded?
Farmship was founded in 2014. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Farmship based?
Farmship is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Farmship make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Produce Distribution (青果流通) is the primary driver. The others are contract R&D Services (受託開発) and business Development (事業開発).
Who are Farmship's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Spread Co., Ltd., Mirai Co., Ltd., Plenty Unlimited Inc., AeroFarms, Kobashi Industries Co., Ltd. and Infarm (Indoor Urban Farming GmbH). Emerging players are Oishii Farm Corporation, 80 Acres Farms, Crop One Holdings and NTT AgriTechnology.
Does Farmship have an API?
Yes. Provides weekly market price prediction API and monthly market price prediction API for agricultural produce. Targets: Sapporo, Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka markets. Products covered: lettuce, tomato, strawberry, spinach. Uses weather data and market data analyzed with AI to predict price fluctuations. Also provides satellite×weather×market data for agricultural product trading volume and price prediction services. Developer documentation is at wagri.naro.go.jp.
What industry is Farmship in?
Farmship's product category is Indoor Vertical Farming / Plant Factory Produce. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFACAJAG, Farm Technology Enablement & Data Integration Advisory (FMIS/ERP, IoT, Decision Support), with a secondary code of AFAGAHAA, Greenhouse Vegetable Production (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leafy Greens). Its NAICS code is 1112 and its SIC code is 100.