Japan News Update #12 (1-4 June, 2021)

New technology for labour saving

Professor Kikuhito Kawasue of the Faculty of Engineering at Miyazaki University has developed “glasses that show the weight of pigs” using AI and AR technology. Just by looking at the pig via the glasses, carcass weight, which affects the trading price of pork, is easily measured. He has applied for An international patent.

Source: Southwest Japan univ. develops smart glasses to visually estimate pigs' weight

Sagri Co., Ltd, a start-up that uses satellite data to identify abandoned farmland, has raised a total of about 155 million yen. In Japan, the number of farmlands that is no longer under cultivation is increasing due to the ageing of farmers, but local government officials have to monitor abandoned farmlands. The company's service will reduce the workload for the staff.

Source: Japanese start-up identifying abandoned farmland with satellite data raises about 155 million yen

Farmers are utilizing digital technology to grow and sell their products amidst the combined effects of a slump in the foodservice industry and an ageing society. The Japan Research Institute says smart agriculture is the right path for Japanese agriculture and that the central and local governments should work together to make the transition a success.

Source: Japanese farmers turn to technology to overcome pandemic and aging

Solutions to Decarbonization, Food Loss and Reginal challenges

The 2021 White Paper on the Environment was the first to feature alternative meat products made from plant-based ingredients to achieve a decarbonized society. It comes after the declaration by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga last year to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050.

Source:  Japan proposes meat alternatives to reduce carbon emissions

Clay made from irregular potatoes is now available for sale. One resident of Okinoerabu Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, learned that their speciality potatoes are discarded if damaged and unsuitable for shipment, so she created clay as a way to recycle them.

Source:  Irregular potatoes made into playdough to reduce waste

Koriyama City in Fukushima Prefecture is known as a rice-growing region with fertile land and pure water.  However, crops produced in Fukushima Prefecture are still subject to harmful rumours due to the nuclear accident caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Still, an increasing number of young farmers are trying to grow vegetables unique to Koriyama to boost their hometown.

Source: Kōriyama Vegetables: Young Farmers Team Up with Partners to Overcome Food Safety Fears

New technology through Joint-development

NTT DOCOMO starts a demonstration experiment of smart agriculture using drones in Hokkaido to save labour in remote cultivation. The experiment will detect outbreaks of disease in potherb mustard at an early stage and spray pesticides to prevent the spread of the disease with a local agricultural cooperative and the Kitami Institute of Technology.

Source: DOCOMO start pesticide spraying experiment with drone

Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. announced that it had signed an agreement to develop technology with The Yield Technology Solutions Pty Ltd. (Sydney, Australia), an Australian start-up company in the smart agriculture field. The two companies will combine their knowledge to promote the development of smart agriculture technology.

Source: YAMAHA develop smart farming with Australian start-up

KAGOME CO., Ltd., a Japanese manufacturer and distributor of tomato-based foods, and NEC, a Japanese Electric Company, announced that they expand their AI-based agricultural support service for tomato farmers. Using an app, farmers can identify abnormal conditions such as changes in soil moisture and analyze the growing status of multiple fields.

Source: KAGOME and NEC expand AI support service for tomato farmer

Pandemic impact on the Food Truck industry

The coronavirus pandemic has devastated the food truck industry in Japan, with more people working from home and many events being cancelled. While restaurants that shorten their business hours in response to requests from local governments are subsidized, food trucks are not in principle.

Source:  Pandemic puts Japan's food trucks in dire straits

Food Policy in Japan

A third-party committee announced no direct impact on MAFF's egg production policy due to the bribery case of former the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Minister Takamori Yoshikawa. Yoshikawa was indicted in January on suspicion of receiving 5 million yen from the former head of Akita Foods while in office.

Source:  Panel Sees No Impact from Bribes on Japan Egg Farming Policy

For previous agricultural news updates, click here.