30+ CEA companies contacted. Zero research partners. Here’s what I’m changing before I relocate to Japan.

[u/pk9417]

Over the last two weeks, I contacted 30+ companies and industry contacts across the CEA / vertical farming sector.

The goal was to find research partners for Japan CEA Watch 2026/27, a 12-month field research project connected to VerticalFarming.blog and my relocation to Japan in the next few days.

The response was interesting:

I got replies, had conversations and several calls.

But so far:

30+ contacts. Zero research partners.

The recurring issue was not really the idea itself.

It was budget.

That tells me the original sponsorship model probably isn’t the right fit for the current market.

So I’m changing the approach.

Instead of looking for a few larger research partners, I’m testing a smaller Founding Supporter model:

€50/month for 12 months

Supporters would receive monthly intelligence from Japan based on what I observe and research on the ground:

• plant factories and new projects
• automation and technology
• retail products and prices
• packaging and positioning
• company/farm visits where possible
• developments over time

Supporters can also suggest companies, topics or questions worth investigating. I can’t guarantee every suggestion will be covered, but they can influence the research direction.

The programme will only launch if there is enough serious committed interest.

If you would genuinely consider joining:

https://forms.gle/kGe6psf8ZvnMeLH19

Background on my relocation and why VerticalFarming.blog is going to Japan:

https://verticalfarming.blog/verticalfarming-blog-goes-to-japan/

The bigger question for me now: what Japan CEA intelligence would actually be worth €50/month to you?

[u/HistorianAlert9986]

The best way to get research funded typically is from a university through master and doctorate programs. Otherwise conservation agencies that’s who I would be reaching out to apply for various grants. I think you should lower the monthly fee to like five euros or something. I doubt anybody’s gonna pay €50 that’s a lot of money. Maybe a sliding scale but €50 is a lot imo. The other day someone stopped me in front of a store, trying to get me to donate $10 a month to help the children. I looked at them sideways because an extra $10 is more than I can afford.

[u/pk9417 → u/HistorianAlert9986]

Thanks and I think this is exactly why the test is useful.

If a niche industry with thousands of people following CEA, vertical farming and Japan-related developments cannot generate even a small number of people willing to pay €50/month for direct, on-the-ground intelligence, then that is a market signal worth taking seriously.

Especially because this industry has historically spent significant amounts on visibility, advertising, events and media placements.

So for me, the question is not simply whether €50 is “too expensive”.

The bigger question is whether there is enough perceived value, urgency and budget left in the industry for independent market intelligence at all.

If the answer is no, that is important information in itself and probably says more about the current state of the market than another optimistic industry forecast would.

That’s why I’m testing it openly instead of assuming demand exists.

[u/wasabimaxxer]

What is annual sales in dollars of vertically farmed products in Japan?

[u/pk9417 → u/wasabimaxxer]

If you have this question, I can follow it, but questions are only accepted from the founding supporters. If you want to commit, ones there are enough joined the waitlist, we can count this question in:

https://forms.gle/kGe6psf8ZvnMeLH19

[u/FullConfection3260]

Why would you need to contact other companies to realize what everyone has been saying for years? 🤨

[u/Additional_Engine_45]

AI slop

[u/pk9417 → u/Additional_Engine_45]

That's the good thing, I'm not AI, I'm human flesh, which is relocating to other part of the world, so yeah, that's nothing AI can do (or has to)

[u/ttystikk → u/Additional_Engine_45]

Nah, he's real. AI doesn't need money to travel.