Rental Farms with Online Features to Offer Farming Experience

Copyright NEC Biglobe Ltd.

A Japanese Internet service provider, NEC Biglobe Ltd. (BIGLOBE), and farming consultant, Myfarm co., will jointly launch "BIGLOBE Farm" in February 2010, making abandoned farms available for individuals to rent via the Internet. The website began taking advanced reservations on November 6, 2009. The monthly rent starts at 3,980 yen (about U.S.$44) for a 7.5-square meter lot at their first farm in Kuki City, Saitama Prefecture.

Instructors are available on site to help guide users in the growing of vegetables. Users of the "BIGLOBE Farm" can also use equipment at the farm and view their vegetables growing online via webcam. Furthermore, the rental farm service includes online farming support and a community that allows interactions among farm renters.

Japan's current food sufficiency rate remains at 41 percent, which is the lowest level among developed countries. Yet, there are about 370,000 hectares of abandoned, underutilized farmland in Japan. Meanwhile, consumers are increasingly interested in farming experience to grow their own food and ensure food safety

Both companies will continue reinforcing their partnership in order to establish 60 rental farms and expand their cumulative user base to 30,000 within the next three years. They also plan to consider selling the vegetables grown at the rental farms via the Internet to help stimulate agricultural activities.

NEC Biglobe Ltd. corporate profile
http://www.biglobe.co.jp/outline/biglobe_profile.pdf

Posted: 2010/01/11 06:00:15 AM