Satellite data is revolutionizing agriculture by improving crop management, identifying fallow land, and offering new solutions to address climate change and labor shortages.
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| Satellite data is driving a major transformation in agriculture, enhancing crop yield, improving sustainability, and helping farmers cope with climate change challenges. Image: CH |
Tokyo, Japan — September 13, 2025:
Agriculture is experiencing a profound transformation, with satellite data emerging as a game-changing tool to enhance efficiency and sustainability in farming practices. As global challenges such as climate change, food security, and labor shortages escalate, data collected from satellites is helping farmers make more informed decisions, optimize crop growth, and reduce environmental impact.
A pioneering example of satellite data integration in farming is seen in Yamagata Prefecture, where the "Space Big Data Rice" project is underway. Tenchijin Inc., a Tokyo-based startup founded by former Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) officials, has adopted satellite data to determine the best areas for cultivating a new rice variety. By analyzing data on ground temperature, topography, and rainfall patterns, Tenchijin has been able to identify the ideal conditions for this high-yield rice variety, which is resistant to the damaging effects of rising temperatures.
"With increasing high temperatures affecting rice grain quality, pinpointing the best cultivation sites through satellite data helps ensure the crop remains resilient in the future," explained a Tenchijin official. This cutting-edge initiative could soon expand to include other crops, further boosting the global agricultural sector's potential.
Beyond this, major industry players like Kubota Corp. are also utilizing satellite imagery to track crop growth conditions, helping to fine-tune cultivation strategies. The Japanese government is also exploring satellite data for forecasting rice harvest volumes, marking a broader national commitment to modernizing agricultural practices with advanced technology.
In addition to optimizing crop management, satellite data plays a vital role in identifying fallow land—unused agricultural land that could be put to productive use. Sagri Co., a startup in Hyogo Prefecture, uses satellite data to precisely locate such land, significantly reducing the need for manual checks and labor-intensive field surveys. This technology also helps to analyze soil health and prevent the overuse of fertilizers, lowering costs for farmers while promoting sustainable farming practices. This approach is already being adopted in Southeast Asia and Africa, where the benefits of satellite-driven insights are being realized.
The market for satellite-based agricultural services is projected to expand rapidly. According to Yano Research Institute, Japan's satellite service market, valued at ¥16.1 billion in fiscal 2022, is expected to grow to ¥34 billion by 2030. This growth reflects the rising demand for advanced, data-driven agricultural solutions.
With approximately 15,000 satellites currently orbiting Earth, the data they generate covers a wide array of agricultural applications. From assessing soil nutrition to monitoring crop health and tracking environmental factors like rainfall and temperature, satellite data is becoming an essential tool for farmers worldwide. While some satellite data is open to the public, businesses can also access specialized data for tailored insights.
Despite these advancements, challenges remain. The agricultural sector still faces issues such as labor shortages, which satellite data can help mitigate by automating tasks and reducing the need for manual labor. However, there are concerns about the equitable distribution of technology and whether the benefits will reach smallholder farmers in developing countries.
In the future, satellite data could be key to addressing the global food security challenge by enabling more efficient, sustainable farming practices. As Shunsuke Tsuboi, CEO of Sagri Co., highlighted, the goal is to "visualize" farmland conditions using satellite data, contributing to solving issues that farmers face. Through collaboration between governments, businesses, and agricultural stakeholders, this data-driven revolution has the potential to reshape the global agricultural landscape for the better.
As satellite data continues to make its mark in agriculture, the possibilities are endless. By harnessing the power of technology, farmers can not only increase crop yields but also ensure that agriculture remains viable in the face of climate change and other pressing challenges.