NHK



 

Japanese farmers and others are getting a glimpse of the future at the trade show, "Next Generation Agriculture Expo Tokyo."

The event focuses on smart farming, or ways to boost production and cut costs. It comes amid soaring import costs of fertilizer due to the war in Ukraine and the weaker yen.

Major German chemical maker BASF is displaying a system that analyzes growth conditions of farm crops, using satellite imagery and artificial intelligence.

The system can control the volume and timing of fertilizer sprays. It can also predict the risk of plant disease. The developer claims in some cases it has cut purchase costs of fertilizer by around 30 percent.

Japanese firm Reprotec is introducing an organic fertilizer made from vegetable waste and other materials generated during food manufacturing.

The firm normally handles industrial garbage. Officials say they can offer their fertilizer at lower prices because they fund its production from fees paid by manufacturers for processing food waste.
The 3-day event runs through Friday October 14.