NEC unveils large-scale farming analysis solution

A new large-scale farming analysis solution was announced yesterday by NEC Corp. to continue the company’s dedication to improving global information and communications technology (ICT).

The solution is able to help farmers get a better idea of when to plant for the best crop yields. The ICT is able to do this through mock ups of virtual fields created with weather, soil and vegetation predictions in mind. Not only will this help to increase crop yield, but farmers will be able to conserve water, fertilizer and agrochemicals which will help save money and resources. Unlike other solutions that needed to collect data over a long period of time, this large-scale farming analysis solution does not require a long period of data to produce the virtual fields.

"NEC focuses on the development of social solutions utilizing its in-house analysis, forecasting, control and mathematical analysis technology to deliver value to the agriculture value chain, including materials, production, processing and distribution," Osamu Fujikawa, NEC's general manager for corporate business development, said. "In this way, NEC aims to help achieve the reforms that will satisfy the growing world demand for food, ensure equitable distribution and expand the availability of safe and secure food environments for all."

To develop cultivation technology for processing tomatoes, NEC has partnered with Kagome Co. Ltd. to work on tests at a farm in Portugal.

"Since October 2015, Kagome has worked in collaboration with NEC to conduct tests utilizing this solution with an Australia-based subsidiary," Takeshi Saeki, chief financial officer for the global tomato company Kagome, said. "In order to respond to the increase in demand for tomatoes due to rising global populations, Kagome is implementing initiatives to increase the unit yield (yield per area) in existing production regions. This latest development of cultivation technology for tomatoes is one such initiative."