HPRS

What HPRS does

HPRS (株式会社HPRS, formerly Hokkaido Pallet Recycle System) is a Hokkaido-based agricultural technology company founded in 2011 that develops and operates off-grid plant factories integrating biomass power generation, biomass thermal utilization, and renewable energy with aquaponics systems linking plant cultivation and aquaculture. The company is headquartered in Fukagawa City at a repurposed former junior high school site (深川市多度志2440番地), with a 10-person headcount, JPY 100 million in registered capital plus JPY 70 million in capital reserves as of March 2025, and an R&D footprint in Sapporo at the Hokkaido University Business Spring incubator.

The company's offering is structured as five interconnected product lines: (1) Off Grid Aquaponics — the foundational off-grid plant factory and aquaculture system that circulates energy between cultivation and aquatic production; (2) Cultivation Unit Sales — proprietary hardware including grow lights, shelving, and control systems marketed to businesses and urban/limited-space applications; (3) Vegetable Production & Sales — hydroponically grown leafy vegetables (5 types of leaf lettuce, basil, chervil) supplied to school cafeterias, roadside stations (Michi-no-Eki), restaurants, and hotels; (4) Closed School Re:Born — conversion of decommissioned school facilities into off-grid plant factories to address Japan's ~450 annual school closures; and (5) Circular Energy — R&D into renewable energy sources including solar, wind, and biomass for self-sustaining operations. The technical platform is protected by six registered Japanese patents covering off-grid solar power generation systems and methods, warm air generation devices, cordless power generation stoves, and combustion devices and methods.

Commercially, HPRS operates a sales-led B2B model concentrated in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido, serving local restaurants, regional supermarkets, the Fukagawa City school lunch program (a government anchor), and consumer channels at roadside stations. Revenue is generated through two active streams — produce sales (transaction-based) and cultivation unit sales (one-time/license-based) — with aquaculture product sales (tilapia, rainbow trout) planned. The company has secured financing from regional financial institutions (Hoku Uchoku Shinkin Bank, Japan Finance Corporation) and has been recognized by the Ministry of Education as a closed-school reuse case study and by Hokkaido Prefecture through Zero Carbon Hokkaido registration.

Name

HPRS

Legal name

株式会社HPRS

Website

https://prs-dd.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

HPRS operates off-grid aquaponics plant factories in Hokkaido, producing hydroponic vegetables for local restaurants, regional supermarkets, the Fukagawa school lunch program, and roadside stations. The company also sells proprietary cultivation units and licenses its closed-school renovation model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Technology and Sustainable Farming Services

NAICS

Food Crops Grown Under Cover (11141), Aquaculture (1125), Biomass Electric Power Generation (221117)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100), Cogeneration Services & Small Power Producers (4991), Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)

akta.pro primary industry

Greenhouse Vegetable Production (Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Peppers, Leafy Greens) (AFAGAHAA)

Keywords

• Off-grid aquaponics
• Plant factory systems
• Hydroponic vegetable production
• Closed school renovation
• Renewable energy agriculture

Headquarters

HQ city

Fukagawa

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Vegetable Production and Sales: Production and sale of hydroponically grown leaf vegetables and herbs. Products include 5 types of leaf lettuce, basil, and celery leaf. Sales through school lunch programs, roadside stations, local restaurants, and supermarkets in the Tokachi region.
2. Cultivation Unit Sales: Sale of proprietary cultivation units including light sources, cultivation shelves, and control systems. Targeted at businesses, urban areas, and limited space applications.
3. Aquaculture Products: Future planned production of tilapia and rainbow trout through aquaponics system for regional distribution.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HPRS develops and operates off-grid plant factories that integrate biomass power generation, biomass heat utilization, and renewable energy with an aquaponics system combining plant cultivation and aquaculture. The company produces and sells hydroponically grown leaf vegetables (leaf lettuce, basil, chervil), sells proprietary cultivation units (light sources, shelving, control systems), and repurposes decommissioned school facilities into zero-carbon plant factories for regional revitalization in Hokkaido, Japan.

Product overview

HPRS offers an integrated system of sustainable agriculture products centered on off-grid aquaponics technology. The core portfolio consists of five interconnected offerings: (1) Off Grid Aquaponics - the foundational off-grid plant factory and aquaculture system; (2) Cultivation Units - proprietary hardware including grow lights, shelving, and control systems; (3) Vegetable Production & Sales - hydroponically grown produce for schools, retailers, and hospitality; (4) Closed School Re:Born - converting decommissioned school facilities into productive agricultural sites; and (5) Circular Energy - renewable energy R&D for self-sustaining operations. These products work together as an end-to-end solution for zero-carbon food production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• オフグリッドアクアポニックス: Off-grid aquaponics system combining biomass power generation, biomass heat utilization, and renewable energy for plant factories combined with aquaculture.
• 廃校Re:Born

Products and services

• Off Grid Aquaponics (オフグリッドアクアポニックス) Integrated off-grid plant factory and aquaculture system that circulates energy between plant cultivation and aquatic production. Designed for low-cost operation and stable year-round product shipping, enabling pesticide-free vegetable production independent of external power grids.
• Cultivation Unit Sales (栽培ユニット販売)

Quantifiable outcome

• Daily production of 400 leaf lettuce plants planned for first year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• 大成建設株式会社 (Taisei Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021Basic agreement signed for collaboration on 'composite circular business model utilizing closed schools' commercialization. Partnership period from July 2021 to June 2024. Combines Taisei's construction expertise with HPRS's off-grid plant factory and circular economy technology.
• 道興建設株式会社 (Doko Kensetsu)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal founding partner in 2011 forming Hokkaido Pallet Recycle System Partnership (連携体) for Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Frontier Business Project.
• 大東工業株式会社 (Daito Kogyo)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOriginal founding partner in 2011 forming Hokkaido Pallet Recycle System Partnership (連携体) for Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Frontier Business Project.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Bowery Farming: Bowery operates vertical farms in the US producing pesticide-free leafy greens. The company's indoor hydroponic model and B2B sales to restaurants/retailers parallels HPRS's distribution model, though at much larger scale.
• Infarm: Infarm builds modular indoor farming units (vertical farms) deployed in retail, restaurants, and distribution centers. It is highly comparable to HPRS's cultivation unit sales business, though Infarm operates globally and at greater scale.
• Plenty Unlimited Inc. Plenty is a US-based vertical farming company building large-scale indoor farms for leafy greens. Its technology approach (vertical farming with proprietary lighting/irrigation) parallels HPRS's hydroponic cultivation units, though Plenty focuses on greenhouse-plus-vertical-farm models rather than off-grid.
• AeroFarms: AeroFarms operates indoor vertical farms using aeroponic technology for leafy greens and herbs. It is comparable to HPRS on indoor cultivation and sustainability branding, though it focuses on US markets and uses conventional grid power.
• Nelson and Pade Inc. Nelson and Pade is a US-based aquaponics company specializing in integrated fish-and-plant systems. It is comparable to HPRS on the aquaponics side of the business, though focused on system sales and training rather than commercial production.
• Oishii Farm: Oishii operates vertical farms in Japan and the US focused on premium strawberries. While HPRS grows leafy greens, both companies operate premium indoor hydroponic farms targeting high-end Japanese and US food service markets.
• Lettuce Grow: Lettuce Grow sells standalone hydroponic growing units to consumers and businesses. Like HPRS's cultivation unit sales, it offers a self-contained cultivation system, though targeted at the consumer/individual rather than enterprise market.

Direct peers

• Mirai Co., Ltd. Mirai operates one of the world's largest plant factories in Miyagi, Japan, producing ~21,000 heads of lettuce daily. Like HPRS, it focuses on year-round indoor hydroponic lettuce production, but at vastly greater scale and using conventional grid power.
• Spread Co., Ltd. Spread operates large-scale hydroponic plant factories in Japan producing leafy greens and lettuce, and is the most direct domestic plant factory peer to HPRS. Both operate indoor hydroponic cultivation with proprietary lighting and environmental control systems, though Spread is much larger and grid-powered.

Others

• Doko Kensetsu Co., Ltd. Doko Kensetsu is one of HPRS's founding partners (a Hokkaido construction company) and is materially comparable to HPRS's closed-school conversion business. While not a direct competitor, it represents the type of construction partner HPRS would need to scale the Re:Born model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hprs.inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/hprs_fukagawa

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HPRS