#Japan #Tokyo #Sustainable Farming #Palm Oil #Space Tech

Space Shift and Sustainable Palm Oil Farming

In a significant stride towards sustainable farming practices, Space Shift, a Tokyo-based company, has announced its partnership with Space Tech Accelerator (STA) and other prominent companies to develop a mobile application aimed at supporting palm oil farmers in Indonesia. This initiative is part of a larger project that leverages satellite data for sustainable procurement, recently approved for funding by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Background of the Initiative

The demand for sustainably sourced agricultural products, particularly palm oil, has surged globally in recent years. Palm oil constitutes about 40% of the total plant oil market, which amounts to roughly 200 million tons. Ensuring a transparent supply chain for palm oil has become increasingly critical, especially given the challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Indonesia, where many palm oil plantations are operated on a smaller scale. Monitoring crop growth and production efficiency are key obstacles. Moreover, issues such as high environmental impact, illegal logging, and opaque supply chains complicate the palm oil production process. Regulations like the European Union's Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) have emerged, yet food manufacturers struggle to comply with these sustainable sourcing requirements.

Project Overview

Against this backdrop, the primary goal of this project is to establish solutions for competitive and sustainable palm oil procurement. The core strategy involves the development of a mobile application tailored for small-scale palm oil farmers. STA leads the project, which includes consultations with local stakeholders and international partners.

The app will integrate satellite data for the health assessment of oil palms, utilize AI for semi-automated extraction of plantation boundaries, and provide support for establishing traceability in the supply chain. By 2025, a user test with approximately 100 participants is planned to take place in Indonesia. Collaborating with various local organizations will facilitate the social implementation of the app, aiming to solidify its technological foundation for the Indonesian market.

Furthermore, the initiative aims to not only verify the quality and accuracy of the information derived from satellite data but also clarify the role of remote sensing technology in addressing crucial challenges faced by palm oil farms and their supply chains. This endeavor is set to accelerate Japan's space development efforts.

Participants and Timeline

The project's official timeline extends from March 2025 to 2026.

• - Lead Organization: Space Tech Accelerator
• - Collaborating Entities: Satellite Data Service Planning Co., Space Shift
• - Local Implementation Partners: IJBNET and others.

Objectives of the Project

• - Promote the digital transformation of Indonesian palm oil farms and enhance farmers' productivity.
• - Reduce risks of illegal logging and deforestation through secured traceability.
• - Establish a foundation for sustainable procurement, thereby assisting companies in achieving sustainable supply chain objectives.

Space Shift’s Contributions

Space Shift will leverage advanced AI to analyze Earth observation satellite data, enabling accurate boundary delineation of palm oil farms. Additionally, they will develop monitoring technologies to track changes in farm sizes over time.

Expected Outcomes

• - Increased transparency in the palm oil production supply chain.
• - Enhanced maturation of satellite data analysis technologies.
• - Realization of sustainable agriculture practices and reduced environmental impact.
• - Improved productivity and profitability for palm oil farmers.
• - Support for food manufacturers in sustainable procurement efforts.

Future Developments

The application under development will extend beyond monitoring via satellite data. By collaborating closely with local stakeholders, it aims to create a practical service centered around real-time field information. This is expected to contribute towards enhancing supply chain transparency in adherence to international regulations like the EUDR.

Looking ahead, the project also envisions potential expansions into neighboring palm oil-producing countries like Malaysia and Thailand, as well as exploring applications for other crops such as coconuts and rubber. By 2030, Space Shift targets over one million users for the app.

With its expertise in satellite data analysis, Space Shift is committed to advancing the digital transformation and sustainability of palm oil farming in Indonesia while establishing environmental responsibility across global supply chains—including Japan. Together with partners, the company plans to set a model case for agricultural digital transformation driven by satellite data.

Company Overview

• - Company Name: Space Shift, Inc. (株式会社スペースシフト)
• - CEO: Naruki Kanemoto
• - Headquarters: 6F, Otemachi Building, 1-chome, Otemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
• - Founded: 2009
• - Website: Space Shift

Please note that product names, company names, and organizational names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

Contact Information for Inquiries

• - Company: Space Shift, Inc.
• - Contact Person: Tada and Tsudaya
• - Email: [email protected]