- Terrafarm, a Tokyo-based start-up, has raised approximately JPY100 million in seed funding to advance research in photosynthesis and agricultural robotics.
- The company is focused on solving agricultural challenges on Earth as a pathway to achieving space agriculture, aiming to enhance food systems from Earth to space.
- Key research areas include improving photosynthesis efficiency and AI-enabled agricultural robots in collaboration with universities.
The company announced that it had secured seed funding on 17 June, with participation from Yoichiro Imai of Effissimo Capital Management, Yuma Umeda of Medical Note, and Tatsuya Suzuki of Giftee Inc.
The firm said the funding will be channelled into two of its research and development projects that aim to address two major challenges in farming.
“Through this fundraising, we will accelerate both the innovation of photosynthesis, the foundation of plants, and the social implementation of agricultural robots,” said Terrafarm CEO Shota Ueda.
Terrafarm’s long-term vision is to realise space agriculture by addressing agricultural challenges on Earth.
“We are confident that solving the challenges facing Earth’s agriculture is the shortest path to realising humanity’s dream of space agriculture,” said Ueda.
Research priorities
One area of focus is the improvement of photosynthesis efficiency, a key bottleneck in crop productivity.
To advance this work, Terrafarm has entered into a joint research partnership with the University of Tokyo, working with Associate Professor Wataru Yamori’s laboratory, which specialises in plant physiology.
The collaboration combines academic expertise with Terrafarm’s plant factory platform, where light, CO₂ levels, temperature, and humidity can be precisely controlled to test and validate new approaches to enhancing photosynthetic performance.
Alongside its research into plant science, Terrafarm is developing agricultural robotics enabled by artificial intelligence.
This work targets automated agriculture, which involves variability in weather conditions, terrain, and crop differences.
The firm believes these complexities pose challenges for robotic deployment but also represent a major opportunity as labour shortages intensify.
According to statistics from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the average age of its agricultural workers is approximately 68.
Meanwhile, the number of workers continues to decline, making labour shortages and an ageing workforce urgent issues for the sector.
The company has established a joint research agreement with Chiba University’s Space Horticulture Research Center, a leading institution in agricultural robotics and controlled-environment cultivation.
Field trials using Terrafarm’s prototype robots are underway at the university’s experimental facilities, allowing the company to refine system accuracy and adaptability.
In parallel, Terrafarm is working with multiple farmers to conduct real-world testing and gather operational data.
These partnerships are intended to ensure the technologies are grounded in practical farm requirements, with a focus on building systems that can withstand commercial deployment conditions.
“Together with our partners, including the University of Tokyo and Chiba University, and our shareholders who share our vision, we will build the foundation of food systems from Earth to space,” said Ueda.
In addition to its research, Terrafarm said it would use the newly raised funds to strengthen product development as it looks to expand its services.
Looking ahead, the company plans to accelerate growth while maximising the value of its offerings, with a focus on achieving sustainable expansion and delivering broader societal impact.