Dec 19 2022

The Faculty of Agriculture, Niigata University (NU) organized a study tour of agricultural DX equipment such as soil analysis machines and unmanned robotic tractors on Friday, November 25, at Muramatsu Station of Field Center for Sustainable Agriculture in Ishisone, Gosen City. The machines were introduced because the Faculty of Agriculture has been selected by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to implement a project which aims to develop highly specialized human resources who drives industrial DX by combining digital technology with specialized fields. About 70 people, including students, those from industry and administrative agencies, and people involved in agricultural DX participated in the tour.

The day was blessed with fine weather despite it being at the end of November on the Sea of Japan coast. The event began with an explanation of the project by Professor HASEGAWA Hideo of the Faculty of Agriculture. After that, an explanation of unmanned robotic tractors, a soil analysis machine which is the only one existing in Japan, remote controlled wrap machines and drones were presented, and actual operation of the machines were demonstrated in the field of Muramatsu Station. Following that, an exchange of opinions regarding expectations and requests for NU was held in the lecture room of Muramatsu Station.

The Faculty of Agriculture is working to deepen its program of the development of human resources relating to agricultural DX by using the opinions gathered at the tour. In addition, they strive to develop advanced agricultural human resources who are equipped with data science knowledge and skills, and who are also needed by local companies, cooperating with industry and government agencies.