Japan is using small drones to develop cutting-edge agriculture. Previously, it was mainly used to spray pesticides on crops such as rice. Now, Tokyo and three other counties have used the characteristics of drones to conduct experiments such as taste analysis, remote monitoring, and transportation. The expansion of drone applications is expected to bring about high precision and sophistication in agriculture.
Quanqiao Wine Manufacturing Co., Ltd., located in Hailaoming City, Kanagawa Prefecture County, operates a number of businesses from rice planting to Sake brewing. Since 2020, the company has cooperated with Kanagawa Prefecture National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology to judge the growth and quality of wine rice by UAV. Yoichi Hashimoto, the president of the company, said that he hoped to use drones to brew high-quality Sake.
Previously, the company used inspections and visual inspections to assess the growth of summer wine and rice, in order to adjust fertilizer usage. However, the total planting area of the company and contracted farmers currently reaches 46 hectares, making it difficult to make specific adjustments based on the growth of each piece of rice. Therefore, the company has introduced drones equipped with high-definition 4K cameras and near-infrared cameras.
This type of drone can take large-scale aerial photos during flight, using near-infrared cameras to determine the strength of plant photosynthesis and make accurate judgments on the amount of fertilizer required for each field.
Generally speaking, rice with lower protein content has better quality. The company is exploring the relationship between the strength of photosynthesis and protein content in rice wine. In addition, the company is also carrying out an experiment: brewing Sake with rice with high protein content and rice with low protein content to compare their taste differences. The goal is to have a clear understanding of the flavor of the brewed wine during the rice planting stage.
In addition, some regions have started using drones for remote technical guidance. Since the summer of 2022, East Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Company (NTT East Japan) and Tokyo Metropolitan Agriculture and Forestry Research Center have been carrying out experiments on remote management of greenhouse crops by UAVs.
Researchers set up a shed covered by local 5G network in the central research and training center of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, which is equipped with small UAVs. The footage captured by the drone is first transmitted to the Tokyo Metropolitan Agriculture and Forestry Comprehensive Research Center, and then experienced technicians provide remote guidance to the growers.
Japan is also rapidly promoting the cultivation of relevant talents. In April 2022, the cutting-edge agricultural research facility “Chunribu Green Park” in Chunribu City, Saitama Prefecture County was officially unveiled. As a drone sales enterprise, Japanese customs clearance companies hold lectures to teach drone usage methods, with about 30 people attending every month, mainly targeting small and medium-sized farmers and those who intend to use drones.
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