The presentation on the efforts in Colombia using precision agriculture technology
* This is the English version of the notice released in Japanese on June 12, 2018.
<https://www.pssol.co.jp/news/20180612/>
A subsidiary of the SoftBank Corp., PS Solutions Corp. (hereinafter “PS Solutions”, headquarters in Minato Ward, Tokyo: Chairman & CEO Amane Kito) was invited to a workshop in Colombia, South America on May 22, 2018 (Tuesday in local time) organized by the National Federation of Rice Growers (FEDEARROZ) which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Projects* has supported. PS Solutions made a presentation on the technology of precision agriculture solutions offered by “e-kakashi” and the examples of use in Japan. At the workshop, the progress on the verification test** conducted at the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) since 2017 was also reported. Many local people in the agricultural business and Keiichiro Morishita, the ambassador of the Japanese Embassy in Colombia, participated in this workshop and enriched their knowledge together.
*Officially called “Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects” (Japanese Site)
** “Overseas Expansion of Japan’s Leading Agricultural IoT Technology
Start of “e-kakashi” Verification Test at the Colombia International Research Organization
-Providing support with Japan’s leading agricultural IoT technology for domestic rice production methods that can compete with imported rice and are likely to increase with free trade agreements-”
CIAT is working on establishing a resource-saving rice cultivation practice suitable for fields facing water shortages, using new rice varieties developed considering the climate of Colombia, and has conducted verification tests with “e-kakashi” introduced in its experimental field in Cali since 2017. CIAT aims to provide and promote the cultivation practices established through these verification tests together with rice seeds among people involved in the agricultural business, and make a stable rice production and harvest possible. “e-kakashi” has been used as a tool visualizing this cultivation practice and navigating the cultivation method.
Takashi Togami, Director of the Agricultural Science Lab., CPS Business Division of PS Solutions made a presentation on the functions of “e-kakashi” at the workshop. He also introduced its application for disease prediction in Japan as an example and rice cultivation inheritance technology backed by science, and gained much interest of participants.
CIAT also introduced the progress of its verification tests while touring the experimental field. Local agricultural technology educators and rice farmers participating in the workshop could see the analytical findings provided by “e-kakashi” and experience its navigation functions using their own smartphones. Those who experienced this workshop gave positive feedback for the application of “e-kakashi”.
Through global cooperation including events such as this workshop, PS Solutions will continue to contribute in efforts to solve issues in the agricultural industry not only in Japan but in the world with “e-kakashi” as an advanced approach combining science and IT.
■Introducing the Speaker
Takashi Togami, Ph.D.
Director, Agricultural Science Lab., CPS Business Division, PS Solutions Corp.;
Dr. Togami graduated with a B.S. in applied sciences from Charles Sturt University in New South Wales, Australia, followed by a Master’s degree from Mie University in Japan, where he researched agricultural information and communication technology. He obtained a doctorate in bioresources science in 2012, also from Mie University, researching sensor networks and information utilization on farms. In December 2012, Dr. Togami received an honorable mention at the International Commission of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering subcommittee of the Science Council of Japan for his work on a wireless sensor network for precise soil water management in an orchard. He joined SoftBank Mobile in 2013, where he currently leads technology development projects related to agricultural Internet-of-Things technology and expertise.
*The name SoftBank is a trademark or registered trademark of the SoftBank Group Corp. in Japan and other countries.
*PS Solutions and e-kakashi are trademarks or registered trademarks of the PS Solutions Corp.
*Other product, company and organization names are trademarks or registered trademarks of the companies concerned.