Ltd., which specializes in the production of Kujo leeks, a representative of Kyoto's traditional vegetables, has introduced the high-performance weather loT sensor "Soratena Pro," one of the services provided by Weathernews' WeatherTech® (WxTech®), in order to achieve a stable supply of high-quality Kujo leeks.
We interviewed Shota Morigami - san, Representative Director of Aguri Shonoya, about the specific use of Soratena Pro.
Weather is the biggest risk; field weather data is key to hedging risk.
Kujo leeks, a traditional Kyoto vegetable, grow in the rich natural environment of the Yamashiro region in the southern part of Kyoto. The biggest risk in the production of Kujo leeks, which are characterized by their soft texture and rich, concentrated flavor, is "weather.
As with other crops, we want to minimize damage to Kujo leeks from typhoons, heavy rains, and other natural disasters. Because Kujo leeks can be produced throughout the four seasons, we wanted to provide a stable supply of high-quality products," said Morigami - san.
With the constant challenge of weather risk in the background, Morigami - san's decision to introduce Soratena Pro was triggered by an overseas study tour. Morigamii - san, who thought that he would be left behind if he only knew about agriculture in his own country, applied for the Nuffield International Farming Scholarship, a scholarship program that started 70 years ago in the United Kingdom. Morigami - san applied for the Nuffield International Farming Scholarship, a scholarship program that began 70 years ago in the United Kingdom. He was selected as the first Nuffield Japan Scholar and traveled to various countries with 80 other farmers from around the world, gaining valuable experience in learning about a variety of farming methods, including large-scale family farming.
As I learned about the realities of advanced agricultural countries, I realized that the first thing Japanese agriculture needs nowadays is data. By utilizing accumulated data, we should be able to improve the accuracy of our farming operations, which until now have often relied on intuition.
Morigami - san was convinced that data-based farming is essential to maintain a stable supply, especially in these days when abnormal weather conditions are the norm.
Utilizing 8 types of observation data to avoid damage to crops
The eight types of observation data that can be observed by Soratena Pro, including wind speed, wind direction, rainfall, temperature, humidity, air pressure, illumination, and ultraviolet rays, which change every minute, are all important elements for agriculture. In particular, we believe that the precise data on "wind," "rain," and "temperature" will greatly affect the future production of Kujo leeks. Take wind, for example. Compared to other types of leeks, Kujo leeks are weak against strong winds. If a strong wind causes Kujo leeks to break in the middle of the field, their commercial value will decrease. Therefore, it is essential to install a plastic cover called a tunnel, which also serves the purpose of heat retention, to prevent wind damage. However, when the wind speed exceeds 8 m/s, the tunnels are often blown away.
Now that we can check the maximum instantaneous wind speed graph on Soratena Pro, we can take appropriate measures before the tunnels are blown away or crops are damaged," said Morigami - san.
They have been using Soratena Pro since February 2021, and are paying close attention to the data from the summer, which will be the first summer of this year. Last year, we were spared from typhoons, but we had long rains in July and high temperatures and little rainfall in August. The conditions were harsh for the crops, as the kujo leeks that we had planted melted due to root rot and disappeared from the fields. With the introduction of Soratena Pro this summer, we will be able to detect changes in soil moisture and temperature changes in the tunnel in advance and respond quickly to the risk of root rot and disease," said Morigami - san.
The ability to easily check observation data has changed the common language within the company.
Morigami - san says that the common language within the company has changed since the introduction of Soratena Pro. Since observation data can be easily viewed on each employee's smartphone, there are many opportunities to use the data, not only before work in the morning, but also during breaks and when traveling, and the weather has become more familiar to employees.
I'm going to check on the fields because the winds are going to exceed 8 m/s." "Precipitation has increased rapidly in the last 10 minutes, what should we do? It's been below freezing, so why don't we get ready for foliar spraying?" The number of suggestions based on observation data viewed by employees has increased in real time, he says.
Also, there are high expectations for Soratena Pro in temperature control, which has a significant impact on the growth of Kujo leeks.
Before we introduced Soratena Pro, we used data from Kyotanabe City, the nearest observation station, as a reference, but there were differences in altitude and climate compared to our field, and there were often discrepancies in the actual temperature and other data.
By installing Soratena Pro on our farmland, we can obtain pinpoint data, which is very useful in terms of productivity and quality improvement," says Morigami - san. Aiming to spread Kujo leek eating culture and expand the market, Morigami - san established Kyo-negi SAMURAI Corporation, a production and sales company, in 2019 with three young businessmen who also run a farm specializing in Kujo leeks. The company boasts one of the largest total area of fields producing Kujo leeks in Kyoto.
From the viewpoint of risk hedging against stable supply, Kyo-negi SAMURAI's farmland is scattered across 12 municipalities in Kyoto Prefecture, from Kizugawa City in the south to Kameoka City in the north, in the north and south. However, the larger the farmland, the more difficult it becomes to control temperature, so we are considering adding more Soratena Pro in the future," says Morigami - san.
Visualizing Weather in the Field to Establish a New Business Model for Farm Management
Morigami - san talks about his future aspirations, "I would like to link the data collected by Soratena Pro with the growth of Kujo leeks, and make better use of the data. We would like to accumulate observation data that is currently viewed on a daily basis over a longer span of time, such as a week or a month, so that we can ask questions such as, "Why did they grow so well? or "Why is the quality so poor? We are also planning to superimpose the observation data on the results of the crops.
If we have both weather and harvest data, we will be able to take the "next step" to ensure a stable supply and improve quality. This unique strategic tool that can be used over the long term will be a great advantage for the future of Kujo leek cultivation," says Morigami - san.
Morigami - san is energized by the development of next-generation agriculture that goes far beyond the framework of growers. By taking the initiative in adopting "smart agriculture," which visualizes the weather in the field, he aims to establish a new business model for farming.
