[MOU Signed] Remote Sensing Project for Philippine Banana Farms: Collaboration Towards Sustainable Agriculture

E-Support Link Co., Ltd. (Chairman & CEO: Shinsuke Horiuchi) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a remote sensing technology demonstration project for banana farms with the Philippine Department of Agriculture, the Philippine Department of Science and Technology, and three representatives of banana producers in the Davao City area.

This project is a technology demonstration that combines drone aerial imagery with our independently developed AI analysis technology to streamline growth management and improve productivity in banana farms. The demonstration will target small-scale farms, and it is a joint project aiming for the introduction of the technology to local governments in banana producing regions by April 2027.

■ Project Details

Demonstration test for productivity improvement using drone aerial imagery

【Period】 April 1, 2026 – March 31, 2027

【Demonstration Sites】 Multiple production areas in and around Davao City, Republic of the Philippines (Mindanao Island)

■ Future Development

Under the supervision of the Philippine Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Department of Science and Technology, we will establish a growth monitoring system for small-scale farms using drones, aiming for full-scale implementation in April 2027.

■ Comment from Hiroyuki Fukatsu, Director and Executive Vice President, E-Support Link Co., Ltd.

Philippine bananas are the most consumed bananas by Japanese people. In recent years, banana production in the Philippines has been unstable due to disease and abnormal weather. Our technology has the potential to contribute to stable banana procurement from the perspective of food security and improve the livelihoods of Filipino producers. I am confident that Japanese AI and IT technology will help solve the agricultural challenges faced by the Philippines. I hope that this joint project with the Philippine Department of Agriculture will lead to the development of banana production and the improvement of producers' lives, as well as foster good relations between Japan and the Philippines.

■ Comment from Macario Gonzaga, Regional Executive Director, Philippine Department of Agriculture Davao Region 11

If AI technology that accurately analyzes drone aerial images of banana farms can be established and introduced in our country, we will be able to quantitatively measure how many bananas are growing across the entire farm and how much effort is needed to enhance the farm's productivity. We believe this technology will be useful not only for producers but also for government agencies that manage production statistics.

Bananas are one of our country's most important commodities. We hope this initiative will contribute to the development of the banana industry.

■ Our Initiatives in the Philippines

In recent years, the proportion of Philippine-produced bananas imported by Japan has been declining, with a shift towards other countries. This trend is due to unstable supply caused by reduced production and quality deterioration affected by diseases and other factors.

E-Support Link has been involved in supporting Japan's banana supply chain for many years and recognizes the urgent need to stabilize procurement and distribution from the Philippines, a major producing country. We have been developing production technology utilizing drone aerial imagery and AI.

This technology enables rapid understanding of the overall growth status of farms, reducing farm management burden while improving productivity.

Through demonstrations targeting small-scale farms, we will establish operational methods suitable for local conditions and expand technology adoption in cooperation with local governments and related organizations.