AGRIST Featured in UN Development Programme (UNDP) 'DigitalX Catalog'. Backed by the Japanese Government, Evolving into a Global FoodTech Company Solving World Agricultural Issues with AI Robotics.
AGRIST's AI-driven automatic harvesting robot has been listed in the UNDP's 'DigitalX Catalog'. The company aims to solve global agricultural labor shortages through tech-driven automation.
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- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 20:00
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AGRIST Inc. (Headquarters: Shintomi-cho, Miyazaki Prefecture, hereafter AGRIST), a startup solving agricultural challenges with technology, announced that its AI-driven automatic harvesting robot has been officially listed in the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) 'DigitalX Catalog'. This catalog* is a global platform under the 'DigitalX 3.0' program supported by the Japanese government, which carefully selects and introduces highly reproducible digital solutions that contribute to achieving the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) and strengthening 'Human Security'.
■ Background: The global food supply crisis and labor shortage
Currently, the global agricultural front is facing a severe labor shortage. 'Harvest loss' due to a lack of personnel during peak harvest times not only deteriorates farmers' profitability but also threatens stable food supply chains globally. Particularly in greenhouse horticulture, which requires meticulous management, securing labor during irregular hours such as early mornings, late nights, and holidays has become the biggest bottleneck hindering the sustainability of agriculture.
■ Solution: Next-generation agricultural infrastructure via AI x Robotics
Our company is rewriting the conventional wisdom of agriculture with AI-driven automatic harvesting robots based on Microsoft Azure.
Automation and productivity improvement: Automates 20-30% of harvesting work. Even at night when humans rest, the robots autonomously navigate and achieve efficient harvesting.
Realization of data-driven agriculture: Real-time AI analysis of growth data and disease information collected by robots. Suggests 'the next move' to producers.
Bridging the digital divide: By utilizing cloud AI, we create a system where even small-scale producers can adopt advanced technology, fusing traditional agriculture with digital innovation.
■ Message from Hiroki Hata, CEO of AGRIST Inc.
'We take the inclusion of our solution in the UNDP catalog as recognition that FoodTech originating from Japan is evaluated as "social infrastructure" capable of solving global challenges. Seeing our past trajectory reach the world in this way humbles us once again.
Currently, the Japanese government has positioned "FoodTech" as one of its 17 growth strategy areas, promoting radical transformation of agriculture through technology. We have no intention of letting the technology we have earnestly refined in the field with producers in Miyazaki Prefecture end as a mere regional case study.
Following this selection by the UN, our awards at CES 2023 and WAFI 2025, and our overseas expansion as a J-Startup, our sights are set globally. AGRIST will further accelerate its journey as a global FoodTech company that completely revamps agriculture through technology and brings about a future of sustainable food supply.'
■ Achievements and Future Outlook: From Japan to the World
Our innovativeness has been highly praised domestically and internationally, having received the CES 2023 Innovation Award, the WAFI 2025 (World Agri-Food Innovation Conference) Grand Prize, and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award.
Moving forward, we will promote further improvement in the automation rate, expand the target crops, and strengthen our AI infrastructure centered around our partnership with Microsoft. With this UNDP listing as a tailwind, we will accelerate social implementation in Japan while delivering 'sustainable harvesting solutions' to agricultural sites worldwide, challenging global food issues.
■ Catalog Page URL
UNDP DigitalX Catalog - AGRIST AI-driven Harvesting Robots
https://digitalx.undp.org/agristAI_dx3.html
*The Digital X Solutions Catalog is an online platform that connects over 130 UNDP Country Offices with technology providers and startups. The use of the UNDP name and logo in this press release is strictly limited to the context of the listing in the UNDP DigitalX 3.0 catalog. The UNDP does not endorse any entity, brand, product, or service. DigitalX 3.0 is led by the UNDP Chief Digital Office's Digital, AI and Innovation Hub and is supported by the Japanese government.
■ Acknowledgments
We express our deepest gratitude to all stakeholders who provided tremendous support in realizing this project.
AGRIST Inc.
AGRIST is a startup company aiming to solve agricultural issues with technology and realize sustainable agriculture that will last 100 years. We are deploying smart agriculture nationwide utilizing AI-driven automatic harvesting robots. Our headquarters is located in Shintomi-cho, Miyazaki Prefecture, a thriving agricultural area selected as an excellent example of national regional revitalization.
■ Background: The global food supply crisis and labor shortage
Currently, the global agricultural front is facing a severe labor shortage. 'Harvest loss' due to a lack of personnel during peak harvest times not only deteriorates farmers' profitability but also threatens stable food supply chains globally. Particularly in greenhouse horticulture, which requires meticulous management, securing labor during irregular hours such as early mornings, late nights, and holidays has become the biggest bottleneck hindering the sustainability of agriculture.
■ Solution: Next-generation agricultural infrastructure via AI x Robotics
Our company is rewriting the conventional wisdom of agriculture with AI-driven automatic harvesting robots based on Microsoft Azure.
Automation and productivity improvement: Automates 20-30% of harvesting work. Even at night when humans rest, the robots autonomously navigate and achieve efficient harvesting.
Realization of data-driven agriculture: Real-time AI analysis of growth data and disease information collected by robots. Suggests 'the next move' to producers.
Bridging the digital divide: By utilizing cloud AI, we create a system where even small-scale producers can adopt advanced technology, fusing traditional agriculture with digital innovation.
■ Message from Hiroki Hata, CEO of AGRIST Inc.
'We take the inclusion of our solution in the UNDP catalog as recognition that FoodTech originating from Japan is evaluated as "social infrastructure" capable of solving global challenges. Seeing our past trajectory reach the world in this way humbles us once again.
Currently, the Japanese government has positioned "FoodTech" as one of its 17 growth strategy areas, promoting radical transformation of agriculture through technology. We have no intention of letting the technology we have earnestly refined in the field with producers in Miyazaki Prefecture end as a mere regional case study.
Following this selection by the UN, our awards at CES 2023 and WAFI 2025, and our overseas expansion as a J-Startup, our sights are set globally. AGRIST will further accelerate its journey as a global FoodTech company that completely revamps agriculture through technology and brings about a future of sustainable food supply.'
■ Achievements and Future Outlook: From Japan to the World
Our innovativeness has been highly praised domestically and internationally, having received the CES 2023 Innovation Award, the WAFI 2025 (World Agri-Food Innovation Conference) Grand Prize, and the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award.
Moving forward, we will promote further improvement in the automation rate, expand the target crops, and strengthen our AI infrastructure centered around our partnership with Microsoft. With this UNDP listing as a tailwind, we will accelerate social implementation in Japan while delivering 'sustainable harvesting solutions' to agricultural sites worldwide, challenging global food issues.
■ Catalog Page URL
UNDP DigitalX Catalog - AGRIST AI-driven Harvesting Robots
https://digitalx.undp.org/agristAI_dx3.html
*The Digital X Solutions Catalog is an online platform that connects over 130 UNDP Country Offices with technology providers and startups. The use of the UNDP name and logo in this press release is strictly limited to the context of the listing in the UNDP DigitalX 3.0 catalog. The UNDP does not endorse any entity, brand, product, or service. DigitalX 3.0 is led by the UNDP Chief Digital Office's Digital, AI and Innovation Hub and is supported by the Japanese government.
■ Acknowledgments
We express our deepest gratitude to all stakeholders who provided tremendous support in realizing this project.
AGRIST Inc.
AGRIST is a startup company aiming to solve agricultural issues with technology and realize sustainable agriculture that will last 100 years. We are deploying smart agriculture nationwide utilizing AI-driven automatic harvesting robots. Our headquarters is located in Shintomi-cho, Miyazaki Prefecture, a thriving agricultural area selected as an excellent example of national regional revitalization.