A team member engaged in “e-kakashi” made a presentation on their effort in Colombia as an example of IoT, big data, AI and CPS use in the agricultural industry.
A subsidiary of the SoftBank Corp., PS Solutions Corp. (hereinafter “PS Solutions”, headquarters in Minato Ward, Tokyo: Chairman & CEO Amane Kito) sponsored the XIII International Rice Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean held in Peru from May 15 to May 18, 2018. A team member of an IoT agricultural solution “e-kakashi” introduced examples of IoT, big data, AI and CPS use in the agricultural industry as well as the feasibility of the reduction of environmental burdens with the precision agriculture concept at the conference. This international conference received a total of 413 participants from rice researchers to people from rice farmers’ groups and rice related businesses from a total of 22 countries (15 Latin American, 3 European, 1 African, 2 Asian and 1 North American).
Takashi Togami (Ph.D.), Director of the Agricultural Science Lab., CPS Business Division of PS Solutions made a presentation on the day of the conference and explained the “e-kakashi” function and examples of IoT, big data, AI and CPS use in the agricultural industry.
“e-kakashi” was deployed in the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Cali, Colombia in 2017 as a tool to establish and promote a resource-saving rice cultivation practice using new rice varieties developed considering the climate of Colombia. * “e-kakashi” is a service which connects environmental data with cultivation work and then records them in its cultivation manuals called “ek recipes”. It will establish resource-saving cultivation manuals as “ek recipes” and promotes the use of such ek recipes together with rice seeds among local farmers to make a stable rice production and harvest possible.
In recent years, the concept of precision agriculture using data is highly valued as a method to reduce environmental burdens and to create a paradigm shift in the agricultural industry since it allows proper irrigation and then promotes the conservation of water resources, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and more. While agriculture continues to develop, it causes a negative effect on the environment. Therefore, the company’s thought on agriculture and the environment, a hot topic in modern society was presented at the conference. The feasibility of the reduction of environmental burdens while securing production volume using IoT for precision cultivation management was explained with actual examples such as a 20% irrigation water cost reduction at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and 11 tons of CO2-equivalent per hectare greenhouse gas (methane) reduction.
*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-
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Also, Dr. Togami explained the second-generation services of “e-kakashi” equipped with enhanced AI and remote control function for remote controlled and automated operation which will be launched in 2018.
PS Solutions will continue to contribute in efforts to solve issues in the agricultural industry not only in Japan but in the world through this international conference with its “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.