【Notice】SORA Technology Expands into GX (Green Transformation) in Agriculture with Applying Drone and AI for Paddy Field Drying Measurement and Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Nagoya, Japan – SORA Technology Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Aichi; Founder and CEO: Yosuke Kaneko), a company tackling global health and climate change challenges with AI and aerospace technology, announces its entry into the GX (Green Transformation) in Agriculture sector.
In collaboration with KITANIHON SKYTECH Corp. (Headquarters: Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido; President: Koichi Kitahama), Smart Agriculture Consortium (Headquarters: Sapporo, Hokkaido; Steering Committee Chairman: Koichi Kitahama), and Professor Hiroshi Okazawa from Tokyo University of Agriculture’s Department of Bioproduction and Environment Engineering , SORA Technology is launching a project using its proprietary drone and AI technology to measure the drying period of paddy fields.
This initiative aims to support farmers in reducing methane, one of the critical greenhouse gas emissions from paddy fields.
Selected for the Local Innovation Challenge HOKKAIDO, an open innovation project hosted by STARTUP HOKKAIDO, SORA Technology conducted a demonstration experiment in Iwamizawa City, Hokkaido, in June 2024.
GX in Agriculture with Drone and AI Integration
45% of Methane Emissions from Human Activities in Japan Come from Rice Cultivation
As the initial step into GX in Agriculture, SORA Technology measures the drying period of paddy fields using drones and AI. Paddy fields are a significant source of methane gas, a greenhouse gas with 25 times the effect of carbon dioxide (CO2). It is reported that 45% of methane emissions from human activities in Japan come from rice cultivation. There is also an urgent need to expand the implementation of rice cultivation with reduced methane production in Africa, where demand for rice is growing rapidly despite ambitious CO2 reduction targets.
During rice cultivation, a process called “nakaboshi” involves draining water from the paddy fields for a certain period, preventing quality degradation and yield reduction, and also suppressing methane emissions as the bacteria in the soil that produce methane have an aversion to exposure to the open air. Extending the drying period within the permissible range without hindering rice growth can further reduce methane emissions, contributing significantly to the reduction of greenhouse gas.
SORA Technology employs its proprietary AI and fixed-wing drones to measure the drying period of paddy fields. The drones can cover up to 100 hectares per flight, assessing the presence of water in paddy fields through AI-based image recognition technology. This allows for accurate calculation of the drying days.
By applying the technology to developing countries, particularly in Africa, it will be possible to return profits to small-scale farmers through carbon credit generation and provide added value such as vegetation monitoring through UAV aerial photography, thereby contributing to improved productivity in rice cultivation while mitigating the impact of methane emissions.
Local Innovation Challenge HOKKAIDO 2024
Local Innovation Challenge HOKKAIDO is an open innovation project addressing regional issues through collaborations between startups and local governments and businesses in Hokkaido. Since its inception in 2020, it has selected 30 demonstration experiments over four years, contributing to business growth for startups and fostering innovation in the region.
This year, SORA Technology was matched with the Iwamizawa City Land Improvement District, conducting a demonstration experiment using drones and AI to measure the drying period.
Official Website: Local Innovation Challenge HOKKAIDO
Comments from Partners
SAc Representative
“This year, SAc is planning to apply for project registration to create J-Credit, carbon credits established by the Japanese Government. We are researching safe methods for extending the drying period using smart agriculture and sharing this information to alleviate the concerns of participating farmers. This initiative contributes to securing new income sources for farmers while promoting environmentally friendly agriculture.”
KITANIHON SKYTECH Corp. Representative
“Under the mission of ‘Connecting the Sky and People for Tomorrow,’ we are promoting the practical implementation of drones. We aim to contribute to the dissemination of smart technology demanded by the times and are working towards establishing new technology for measuring the drying period with drones and AI, focusing on the future of environmentally friendly agriculture in Hokkaido.”
Professor Hiroshi Okazawa, Tokyo University of Agriculture
“Methane has 25 times the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide, and one of its main sources is paddy fields. In Japan, there is growing interest in technologies to suppress methane emissions from paddy fields through water management. If drone-based image diagnosis methods can be applied, it could lead to the widespread adoption of new environmentally friendly agriculture by effectively managing water and suppressing methane emissions on a large scale.”
About SORA Technology
SORA Technology Co., Ltd. is on a mission to transform human lifestyles from the “SORA” (sky). Through air mobility, such as drones, we aim to realize a safe and prosperous society anywhere in the world. Our main business focuses on infectious disease control and climate change countermeasures using drones and AI.
Contact Information
Public Relations: Ichiho Sato, SORA Technology Co., Ltd.
Email: ichiho.sato@sora-tech.com
