NEC Corp. and Kagome Co. announced Monday that they have jointly developed an AI-equipped agricultural support system for tomato farmers, with plans to begin selling the technology worldwide.
Designed to supplement the specialized knowhow of skilled farmers, the system aims to boost crop yield while cutting down on water and fertilizer waste. The system also offers the advantage of reducing harvest variability, thereby making it easier for farms to plan stable production schedules.
The system uses sensors to collect data on soil moisture levels, temperature, sunlight duration, and other variables in tandem with satellites that remotely monitor leaf density in the fields. This information is then analyzed by an AI algorithm that advises farmers on the optimal time and amount of water and fertilizer for their crops.
The companies began developing the platform in 2015 and have been training the AI with a wealth of data from experienced cultivators.
In trial runs conducted at farms, the system effectively reduced fertilizer use by 20% from the average while increasing crop yield by 30%.
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