[Topics] AI and digital twin research led by Professor Fumihiko Tanaka selected for MAFF smart agriculture project

The research project, "Advanced Quality Preservation through Precision Storage Control and Optimal Loading Using AI and Digital Twins," led by Professor Fumihiko Tanaka of the Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, has been selected for Priority Research and Development (Private-Sector-Oriented) under the second call for proposals of the Project for the Development and Supply of Smart Agricultural Technologies, which is funded through the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) FY2025 supplementary budget measure Accelerated Development and Supply of Smart Agricultural Technologies.

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About the MAFF Project for the Development and Supply of Smart Agricultural Technologies

This project brings together universities, research institutes, and private companies to address key challenges facing the agricultural sector by promoting an integrated approach that spans the entire process from the research and development of smart agricultural technologies to their practical implementation in society. Through the early dissemination of research outcomes, the project aims to enhance agricultural productivity and contribute to the realization of sustainable agriculture.

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Research Project

This research aims to reduce quality deterioration and food loss during the storage and distribution of persimmons. Currently, variations in temperature and humidity within storage facilities, as well as differences in loading arrangements, can lead to quality degradation and product waste, posing significant challenges for producers.

Led by Kyushu University, the project brings together the Fukuoka Agriculture and Forestry Research Center, the Kumamoto Prefectural Agricultural Research Center, INFOCORPUS Inc., ITAKURA Co., Ltd., and the Distribution Economics Institute of Japan, among other partners. The research team will develop a "digital twin" technology that recreates storage environments in a virtual space, as well as an AI-based loading optimization technology that utilizes quality prediction data.

The project will also establish a smart distribution system that integrates quality prediction, storage management, and shipment support through collaboration with the agricultural data platform WAGRI and related systems. Through these efforts, the researchers aim to extend product shelf life, reduce labor requirements, minimize food loss, and improve profitability in production regions.

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Research and Development

The project will be conducted for up to three years, from FY2026 through FY2028, with funding of up to JPY 350 million. During the project period, demonstration trials will be carried out at actual storage facilities and shipping sites to verify the effectiveness of quality preservation technologies for fresh produce, with a particular focus on persimmons. The researchers also plan to expand the technology to other horticultural crops, including pears and citrus fruits, with the long-term goal of promoting its adoption in fruit-producing regions throughout Japan.

Through this project, Kyushu University aims to advance the digital transformation of postharvest operations and contribute to the development of a sustainable agricultural and food distribution system.

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Contact

• Fumihiko Tanaka, Professor
  fumit★bpes.kyushu-u.ac.jp
• Fumina Tanaka, Associate Professor
  fuminat★bpes.kyushu-u.ac.jp

Please replace ★ with @ in the email address