Initiation of Implementation Verification for AI-Based Agricultural Work Judgment Support Service Utilizing Image and Environmental Data

Canon Marketing Japan Inc. (President & Representative Director: Masachika Adachi, hereinafter Canon MJ) and its group company Canon IT Solutions Inc. (President & Representative Director: Hiroshi Suyama, hereinafter Canon ITS) will begin implementation verification in Ehime Prefecture from June 2026 for a service that supports daily agricultural work judgment and technical succession by organizing and visualizing agricultural land image data and environmental data, such as weather and soil, using AI*1. This initiative was selected for the digital implementation acceleration project "Triangle Ehime 2.0" (hereinafter referred to as the Project), following its selection last year. This year, by implementing AI that supports agricultural work judgment, the goal is to realize a service that allows more farmers to utilize data, regardless of their experience or specialized knowledge.

Overview of Implementation Verification

Background In the agricultural sector, amidst growing labor shortages and an aging population, the personalization of work and reliance on experience and intuition for judgments have become major challenges. Based on this background, the implementation verification conducted last year realized a system that allows remote monitoring of crop conditions through the acquisition and visualization of video/images and environmental data. On the other hand, it also became apparent that a system to assist in how to interpret and judge the acquired data is necessary for a wider range of farmers and workers to utilize it. Especially in cultivation management and determining the timing of operations, there are situations where differences in experience lead to disparities in the degree of data utilization. Considering these circumstances, this year's initiative utilizes AI to provide easy-to-understand information derived from data that can serve as hints for judgment. By presenting suggestions and insights that can be applied to daily operations, we are advancing efforts to support work judgment.

Overview of This Year's Implementation Verification In this project, an AI that supports farmers' work judgment will be newly implemented in the image AI integration platform "Bind Vision" provided by Canon ITS. This AI function is a system where necessary information for judgment can be easily called up through natural language questions, based on cultivation management records (such as watering and pest control) and cultivation manuals, in addition to the acquired images and environmental data. This makes it easier for farmers to grasp situations that need immediate confirmation and changes requiring attention, while taking into account crop growth conditions, environmental changes, and past cultivation management history. Consequently, it can be utilized for on-site work judgment in a way that complements the experience and specialized knowledge of experts. In addition to the open-field cultivation of roses and taro and the greenhouse hydroponic cultivation of tomatoes conducted last year, the implementation destinations will newly include the greenhouse soil cultivation of asparagus, verifying its effectiveness across a wide range of agricultural environments.

Future Prospects We aim to achieve an operational model where business efficiency and yield improvement can be realized through AI-utilized judgment support without the advice of experts. Additionally, we will continue holding study sessions in collaboration with farmers and experts in Ehime Prefecture, aiming to improve the accuracy of the service while reflecting on-site feedback. Through this project, Ehime Prefecture expects the service to take root as something practically utilized within the prefecture, while also broadening the base of farmers engaged in agriculture utilizing data and AI. To meet these expectations, we aim to realize an environment where more farmers can utilize data by leveraging the knowledge gained from this project and expanding it horizontally within Ehime Prefecture.

*1. The AI implemented in this project is a function to support users' data utilization and decision-making, and does not provide consulting or guidance as an expert or specialist.

Inquiries regarding this project Canon Marketing Japan Inc. Information and Communication Systems Headquarters, Digital Strategy Department 03-6719-9376

Inquiries regarding "Bind Vision" Canon IT Solutions Inc. IT Service Sales Headquarters, IT Service Sales Department 03-6701-3560

"Bind Vision" Homepage https://www.canon-its.co.jp/solution/industry/cross-industry/image-integration/bindvision/brand

Regarding Last Year's (Reiwa 7) Verification Canon Marketing Japan Group Owned Media - Mirai Angle Connecting farmers' passions and know-how to the next generation through agricultural land management using video and data. Canon MJ Group's agricultural DX challenge in Ehime - Thoughts Connected to the Future case 17. Ehime Prefecture "Digital Implementation Acceleration Project"

Value Provided 1. Visualization and Review of Crop Growth Status and Environment using Images and Environmental Data By utilizing "Bind Vision," it becomes possible to centrally manage and visualize images and environmental data. By combining and displaying network camera footage and meteorological/environmental data, the growth of agricultural products