Japan to promote AI-powered agriculture in Hokkaido with special zones

Japan designated 19 municipalities in Hokkaido's Tokachi region, including Obihiro, as national strategic special zones on Thursday to promote AI-powered agriculture, the first such designation for AI-driven farming. The government will ease rules so autonomous robot tractors can travel on public roads without a driver when moving in a convoy with a crewed vehicle, and simplify procedures for drone pesticide spraying. A Cabinet Office survey and demonstration project begins later this month, with a symposium in Obihiro in November, as the government seeks to draw technology companies into agriculture.

The government decided Thursday to designate 19 municipalities in the Tokachi region of Hokkaido, including the city of Obihiro, as national strategic special zones to promote artificial intelligence-powered agriculture. The government will apply special deregulation measures to the areas, including simplifying the procedures needed to operate robot tractors autonomously on public roads and spraying pesticides with drones. Under current laws, robot tractors capable of autonomous operation must have a driver when traveling on public roads, such as from a warehouse to a field. When multiple tractors are used on vast farmland, each tractor must be crewed, thus preventing farmers from fully realizing the benefits of the labor-saving technology. In the special zones, autonomous tractors will be allowed to travel on public roads without a driver onboard when moving in a convoy with a crewed truck or other vehicles. Regulatory requirements will also be eased to develop the communications infrastructure necessary for uncrewed operations. There are already examples of the national strategic special zone system being used in agriculture, including in the city of Niigata, where an exception was made to allow farmers to open restaurants on their farmland. This is the first time that such a designation has been granted for AI-powered agriculture. The government hopes it will encourage technology companies to enter the agricultural sector. At a news conference following the government’s decision, Obihiro Mayor Yosuke Ueno said, “We appreciate the recognition of the Tokachi region, with its large-scale farms, as being well-suited to serve as a demonstration site for AI-powered agriculture.” The mayor said a Cabinet Office survey and demonstration project will begin later this month and a symposium will be held in Obihiro in November. “By making use of the special zone, we can establish a new form of agriculture in a short period and spread it throughout Japan and the world,” said Mitsugi Takenaka, mayor of Kamishihoro and chair of an association of towns and villages in the Tokachi region.