Shokubunka Co., Ltd. Forms Partnership Agreement with Zero Field Inc.

Shokubunka Co., Ltd. (Head office: Higashi-Azabu Shokubunka Building 4F, 1-27-1 Higashi-Azabu, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Akifumi Hagiwara; hereinafter "Shokubunka") announces that it has entered into a partnership agreement with Zero Field Inc. (Head office: 3-4-1 Shibaura, Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Yusuke Hirashima; hereinafter "Zero Field"), and will begin providing support for the introduction of "AIDEC," an abnormal detection AI for repelling wild animals developed and provided by Zero Field.

Through this partnership, Shokubunka, which operates "Umaymon.com" and "Toyosu Market.com," will consistently support farmers and producers nationwide, from proposing AI countermeasures against wildlife damage to their introduction and operational follow-up, aiming to mitigate crop damage and stabilize profits.

Background of the Partnership

In recent years, damage to agricultural crops by deer, wild boars, monkeys, and other wild animals has become increasingly severe nationwide, significantly pressing producers' incomes. Furthermore, with the aging of the agricultural workforce and the ongoing labor shortage, traditional countermeasures relying on patrols and physical prevention have reached their limits.

Shokubunka has, until now, collaborated with producers nationwide to deliver the value of specialty ingredients to consumers while also promoting initiatives to support producers' sustainable business operations. In this context, it recognizes that addressing factors hindering stable production is an extremely important theme for the future of the primary industry.

Meanwhile, Zero Field has developed an anomaly detection AI using image analysis, leveraging high-performance GPU infrastructure and AI development technology. "AIDEC" detects the intrusion of wild animals in real-time based on camera footage, enabling immediate notifications and linkage with deterrent devices, thereby preventing damage and reducing workload.

This partnership is an initiative to create new value directly connected to solving challenges in production sites by combining Shokubunka's producer network with Zero Field's AI technology.

Partnership Details

Through this partnership, Shokubunka will collaborate with Zero Field to promote the introduction of "AIDEC" to farmers and producers nationwide.

Specifically, it will provide highly effective solutions tailored to the actual conditions on site through:

Proposals for "AIDEC" to farmers and producers nationwide Hearing before introduction and formulation of optimal installation plans Follow-up on usage after introduction and support for maximizing effectiveness

Furthermore, in the future, by strengthening cooperation with agricultural cooperatives (JA) and local governments and promoting regional introduction support, it aims to:

Control wildlife damage Reduce the risk of crop theft Reduce waste loss Lessen the burden of patrols Establish a stable production system

thereby contributing to the sustainable development of the primary industry.

[Comments from Business Leaders on the Partnership]

Akifumi Hagiwara, Representative Director and President, Shokubunka Co., Ltd.

Our company has been working on the development of the primary industry by directly facing producers nationwide, not only in the distribution and sales of ingredients but also by providing production support. In the current environment, we strongly recognize that issues such as wildlife damage and crop theft not only press producers' incomes but are also critical challenges affecting the very existence of production areas. We believe this partnership with Zero Field Inc. is a highly significant initiative that seeks to solve these on-site challenges through AI technology. By combining our company's accumulated nationwide producer network and knowledge of sales and distribution with Zero Field's advanced AI technology, we will support the reduction of burden at production sites and the establishment of a stable production system, thereby sustainably delivering higher value ingredients to our customers. Going forward, we will further promote this initiative nationwide in cooperation with JAs and local governments, contributing to the development of the primary industry and local communities.

Yusuke Hirashima, Representative Director and President, Zero Field Inc.

The inspiration for AIDEC's development came from learning about the severe wildlife damage in Hokkaido, the birthplace of our business leader. The desire to help farmers, local residents, and companies suffering from wildlife damage was the starting point, and this business was launched under our corporate philosophy of "creating freedom" and "continuing to create indispensable things for the world." At production sites, there are many cases where human efforts alone are insufficient, or the continuation of countermeasures itself becomes a significant burden. While addressing these voices from the field, we want to deliver AI technology in a "truly useful form," reduce burdens even slightly, and increase new options. Moving forward, we will promote the construction and verification of introduction models tailored to regional characteristics, and further develop and advance AIDEC to continue providing "value that reaches the field."

About Shokubunka Co., Ltd.

[Company Profile]