100 Agricultural Professionals Surveyed on "AI Use Cases," Half Report "Efficiency in Administrative Tasks"

Noujoujin Inc., which promotes the fusion of agriculture and new technologies, conducted the "Agricultural AI Utilization Status Survey 2026" targeting 100 agricultural professionals and released the results on July 3, 2026.

When 100 agricultural professionals were asked about "how they are using or want to use AI" (multiple responses allowed), the most common answer was "efficiency in recording, documentation, and administrative tasks" such as daily reports, report writing, and email correspondence, with 48 people (approximately half) selecting this option. In contrast, "cultivation management and on-site decision-making," including judgment of growth status, cultivation planning, and pest/disease response, was selected by only 12 people, or 10%, showing a fourfold difference. Current usage and specific intentions for utilization are concentrated on administrative tasks, revealing that AI in the agricultural field is penetrating from "the office" rather than "the field." With the number of core agricultural workers falling below 1 million (※1) and farm sizes expanding, the next challenge for the industry is how to extend AI utilization, which began with administrative tasks, to on-site cultivation decision-making.

Amidst the core agricultural workforce falling below 1 million, how is AI being used in agriculture?

According to the "2026 Agricultural Structure Dynamic Survey" (as of February 1, 2026) released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on June 30, 2026, the number of agricultural management entities nationwide was 799,700, a 4.4% decrease from the previous year, falling below 800,000. Furthermore, the number of core agricultural workers in individual management entities was 986,600, a 4.8% decrease year-on-year, with an average age of 67.7 years, falling below 1 million people (※1).

On the other hand, the number of corporate management entities increased by 2.4% compared to the previous year. Additionally, for all agricultural management entities with cultivated land, the average cultivated land area per entity was 3.8 ha, an expansion of 5.6% from the previous year. While the number of agricultural management entities and core agricultural workers in individual management entities is decreasing, there is an increase in corporate management entities and an expansion in the cultivated land area per entity.

In this context, the utilization of generative AI is attracting attention as one means to support labor saving and operational efficiency.

So, what kind of tasks are people involved in agriculture actually using AI for?

Our survey of 100 agricultural professionals revealed a tendency for respondents to concentrate AI usage and intended usage on "efficiency in recording, documentation, and administrative tasks," such as preparing daily reports, writing reports, and handling emails, rather than on "cultivation management and on-site decision-making," which includes judging growth status, cultivation planning, and pest/disease response.

(※1) Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries "2026 Agricultural Structure Dynamic Survey Results" (As of February 1, 2026, released June 30, 2026).

Survey Results Highlights

Respondents Split Roughly Evenly Between "Producers" and "Support/Related Parties"

Survey Respondent Attributes

The breakdown of the 100 respondents was 37 farmers, 29 support personnel (local government, JA, extension advisors, etc.), 16 other agricultural professionals, 9 new farmers, 5 agricultural corporations, and 4 others. "Producers themselves," including farmers, new farmers, and agricultural corporations, numbered 51, while support and related parties numbered 49.

Approximately 80% of Survey Respondents Use AI in Some Form

AI Utilization Experience

Out of 100 respondents, 79 were using AI in some form personally. "Continuous use in business" accounted for 45 people, and "advanced/development level" accounted for 7 people, bringing the total number of people in the business utilization stage to 52.

AI Use Cases: About Half Focus on "Efficiency in Administrative Tasks"

Out of 100 respondents, 48 cited "efficiency in recording, documentation, and administrative tasks" as an area where they currently use or intend to use AI. Of these, 41 are already using AI for tasks such as preparing daily reports and documents, drafting emails, and organizing meeting minutes and records.

AI Utilization in "Cultivation Fields" Remains at 10%, Even Including Intentions"

On the other hand, only 12 people responded that they are currently using or intend to use AI for "cultivation management and on-site decision-making," such as judging growth status, cultivation planning, and pest/disease response. Of these, 9 people are already using AI for these purposes.

"Agricultural AI Utilization Status Survey 2026" Report Available Free to Applicants

This survey is positioned as the first installment of the "Agricultural AI Utilization Status Survey 2026." We will continue to conduct surveys, maintaining consistent questions and aggregation criteria, to track changes in AI utilization in agricultural fields. By continuously visualizing the actual situation in the field through ongoing surveys, we aim to promote the implementation of AI in agriculture.

Furthermore, the survey report (9 pages, PDF) summarizing the details of this survey (breakdown of respondent positions and AI utilization experience, aggregation of AI tools used, analysis of barriers and challenges in utilization, etc.) is available free of charge to those who wish to receive it. Please apply through the dedicated form.

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Survey Overview

Survey Name

Agricultural AI Utilization Status Survey 2026

Survey Organizer

Noujoujin Inc.

Survey Target

Individuals involved in agriculture (farmers, new farmers, agricultural corporations, extension advisors, JA, local governments, agricultural support companies, etc.) *Includes non-AI users

Survey Items

Position/Main Crops/Purpose of AI Use/AI Utilization Experience/AI Tools Used/Concerns and Stumbling Blocks in AI Utilization/Problems AI Could Help Solve

Survey Period

February - June 2026

Survey Method

Questionnaire survey (integrated and deduplicated responses from multiple channels including web forms, diagnostic content, and pre-event responses)

Valid Responses

100 people

Publication Date

July 3, 2026

Notes

Percentages are based on 100 respondents (including non-AI users), and AI use cases are multiple responses (including current usage and specific intentions for utilization).

This survey was conducted through our company's network and is not a statistical representation of all agricultural workers nationwide.

Citation

When quoting or reprinting figures and graphs from this survey, please cite "Agricultural Field AI Utilization Status Survey 2026 (Noujoujin Inc.)" as the source.

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About "Agricultural AI News," an AI Media for Farmers

"Agricultural AI News" operates under the concept of "Nurturing the Future of AI Utilization from Farmers' Experiences and Words," providing AI utilization procedures and practical examples in a "ready-to-use today" format. It also incorporates insights born from the practices of farmers, including ambassadors, into the media, creating a cycle to deliver this knowledge to farmers nationwide who are about to embark on AI utilization.

Agricultural AI News

Survey Conducting Company

Noujoujin Inc.

Noujoujin Inc.

Representative: Yuichiro Kai

Services Provided (Partial): - Agricultural Marketing Support - Planning and Development of Agricultural x New Technologies - AI Consulting - Book Publishing

URL: https://noujoujin.com/

Email: info@noujoujin.com