※This is a machine-translated text of the original article.

It was announced that the Koyu Foundation established the Smart Agri Association in Shintomi-cho of Miyazaki Prefecture on the southern island of Kyushu, in order to accelerate further development, practical application, and human resource development of smart agriculture in Japan.

In conjunction with the Smart Agri Association, the foundation focuses on collaboration between local governments and enterprises, disseminating information, and strengthening hiring.

We will work to resolve agricultural issues in Japan and the world by bringing together technologies and human resources, they say.

The association was established in Shintomi-cho, Miyazaki Prefecture, with the mission of “realizing sustainable agriculture that can bring together and earn knowledge,” with the vision of “realizing agriculture that continues for 100 years.”

Mr. Hiroshi Muraoka, President and CEO of IPPEI Holdings, known for the Kyushu Pankake brand and others, was appointed as chairman.

Members of the Board of Directors are tenants of the Shintomi agri valley, a co-working space established on November 10, 2019, on the same day as the establishment of the Association as a smart agricultural cluster.

Not only agricultural ventures, but also farmers, IT companies, and other diverse food and agricultural organizations and human resources are participating, and this is the optimal structure for innovation.

There are three types of members of the association. For special corporate members, the association is able to jointly plan events with the Koyu Foundation only for 10 companies, and get an opportunity to participate at the Smart Agriculture Summit (scheduled twice a year).

Supporting members (10,000 yen per month):
Opens a booth at the Smart Agriculture Summit (scheduled once a year in Tokyo / Miyazaki)
Participation in the Smart Agriculture Summit (once a year in Tokyo / Miyazaki, up to two employees and guests)
Participation in study meetings (held over 4 times a year/up to two employees and guests from Tokyo / Miyazaki)
Posting on the Smart Agri Association website
Drop-in use of coworking space

Corporate Membership (30,000 yen per month):
Opens a booth at the Smart Agriculture Summit (scheduled twice a year in Tokyo / Miyazaki)
Participation in the Smart Agriculture Summit (up to five employees and guests, scheduled twice a year in Tokyo and Miyazaki)
Participation in study meetings (over four times a year with up to five employees and guests from Tokyo / Miyazaki)
Posting on the Smart Agri Association website
Drop-in use of coworking space

Special corporate members (50,000 yen per month):
Implementation of joint planning (joint press releases, planning of study meetings, etc.)
Speaking at the Smart Agriculture Summit (scheduled twice a year in Tokyo and Miyazaki)
Opens a booth at the Smart Agriculture Summit (scheduled twice a year in Tokyo and Miyazaki)
Participation in the Smart Agriculture Summit (twice a year in Tokyo and Miyazaki, up to 10 employees and guests)
Participation in study meetings (four unscheduled sessions per year, up to ten employees and guests from Tokyo and Miyazaki)
Posting on the Smart Agri Association website
Drop-in use of coworking space

In the future, the foundation will develop technologies and human resources to solve global agricultural issues through the Smart Agri Association.

Original Text: https://ampmedia.jp/2019/12/27/smart-agri-association/