SORA Technology Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Nagoya, Japan; Founder & CEO: Yosuke Kaneko; hereafter “SORA Technology”)  is pleased to announce that it has officially obtained Patent No. 7724593, titled “Oxygen-Adding Vehicle and Oxygen-Adding Method,” granted by the Japan Patent Office. This patented technology enables the direct addition of oxygen into paddy soil, improving rice cultivation conditions while simultaneously suppressing methane emissions, a major greenhouse gas.

Patent Overview

• Patent No.: 7724593
  
• Title of Invention: Oxygen-Adding Vehicle and Oxygen-Adding Method
  
• Registration Date: August 7, 2025

Key Features of the Invention
This invention equips a specialized vehicle, designed to run between rows of rice plants, with an oxygen supply system that introduces oxygen directly into the soil.
・A cylindrical oxygen-adding component, mounted at the front of the vehicle, rotates to form shallow grooves on the paddy surface.
・Oxygen is efficiently supplied into the soil through these grooves.

By doing so, the technology：
・Promotes healthy root development in rice plants.
・Suppresses methane gas generation within the soil.
・Contributes to stable yields and reduced environmental impact.

Technical Significance and Social Impact

Improving Rice Cultivation
Supplying oxygen to the soil enhances root health, leading to improved yields and stable grain quality.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Methane generated from rice paddies accounts for an estimated 40% of Japan’s total emissions. This technology helps mitigate methane emissions and strengthens climate change countermeasures in agriculture.

Promoting Sustainable Agriculture
Unlike conventional practices that extend mid-season drainage periods, this method achieves both stable crop growth and methane reduction, enabling environmentally friendly rice cultivation while enhancing yield and quality.

Future Outlook

SORA Technology will continue research and development to commercialize and scale the use of oxygen-adding vehicles based on this patented technology. The company also aims to strengthen collaborations with domestic and international research institutions and agricultural businesses to contribute to achieving carbon neutrality in the agricultural sector.