The tough task of creating urban agriculture that appeals to young people

Climate change is having a major impact on agricultural crops around the world. As farmland is exposed to high temperatures and dryness, measures such as changing cultivated areas and switching to different varieties are being taken everywhere in Japan, and for all crops. Furthermore, efforts are being made day and night to develop new varieties with high resistance.

However, as evidenced by the fact that vegetable prices rise every year due to poor harvests, there are limits to such efforts. Is it possible for us to sustain safe and secure Japanese food into the future? One path to this goal may be the modular indoor farming system developed by Square Roots, a US company.

Co-founded in 2016 by Kimbal Musk, the younger brother of Elon Musk and a businessman himself, and Tobias Peggs, who holds a PhD in AI, Square Roots’ modular system uses a unique concept to produce crops and has the potential to change the way agriculture is practiced. To date, the system has been introduced in five US states, and in 2025, the company launched Square Roots Japan, its first Asian subsidiary.

The company plans to open a cutting-edge modular indoor farm, “Agri Tech Lab Tokyo,” in early 2026, renovating part of a warehouse under the JR Keiyo Line elevated tracks near Shin-Kiba Station in Tokyo.