Digitalization of Agriculture Sector in Japan

Purpose: this article includes the review of the Japanese policy on the digital transformation transformation of the agricultural sector, description and analysis of the implementation cases, as well as identification of obstacles to achieve the expected results.

Methods: the study uses the methods of structural, comparative and systems analysis and the principle of formal logic. The article is based on the analysis of scientific and analytical materials devoted to the problem of research. The factual basis is the framework documents of the Cabinet of Japan, media, reports of Japanese research institutes.

Results: the article provides a brief review and analysis of the Japanese public of digital transformation of the agricultural sector, provides some cases, summarizes the interim results of the measures taken, identifies problematic factors that prevent the achievement of the expected results. The hypothesis is put forward about the key role of the government in the process of developing new standards for the digital transformation.

Conclusions and Relevance: Japan agricultural sector is facing a severe labor shortage. The situation is expected to get worse in the next 5 years. The Japanese government expects that digital technologies and autonomous equipment will compensate for the lack of labor on farms, as well as provide a new stage in the development of the traditional agricultural sector. However, the digitalization of agriculture sector is not limited to the introduction of the latest technology, but also involves the development of new safety rules for the use of robotic tractors, unmanned aerial vehicles, improving farmers ICT education, and standardizing new agricultural terms. However, despite the promise of using digital technologies, the high cost of new equipment and the complexity of its use is a significant obstacle to the digitalization of agriculture in Japan. The study of the features of the digital transformation of the Japanese agricultural sector is very important for the effective implementation of industry projects that exist today in Russia.

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