Robot farm to open in tsunami disaster area

Posted on Tuesday, 10 January, 2012 | Comment icon

13 comments | News tip by: Still Waters

Image credit: CC 2.0 Kokai

By Offeiriad, Staff News Writer
The project will see the world's first robot farm open on land swamped by the tsunami in Japan.

Miyagi Prefecture in Japan was one of the worst hit areas of the 2011 tsunami, but now it has become the site of a futuristic robot farm project spearheaded by the Japanese government. Millions will be spent over a projected six year time period to get the farm up and running, it is hoped that the new farm will help support the local farmers whose livelihoods were destroyed in the disaster.

The project, masterminded by the Ministry of Agriculture, will involve unmanned tractors working the fields of the farm on a disaster zone site spanning 600 acres. Robots will then box produce grown on the farm, including rice, wheat, soybeans, fruit and vegetables as part of the “Dream Project” scheme, according to the Nikkei.

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Source: Telegraph

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Recent comments on this story

#4 Posted by angi chiesa on 10 January, 2012, 13:47

I dont get the reason for this.Are they short of farmers there

#5 Posted by zenfahr on 10 January, 2012, 18:22

This is somehow ecologically freindly? Very Human of them, replaceing people with machines. For a country just hit with a tsunami, you would think they would have better things to spend their money on. Big Fail.

#6 Posted by General Kenobi on 10 January, 2012, 19:27

I saw a trial of a robotic GPS guided combine/harvester last fall. Darnedest thing... did a perfect job over 1600 hectars of corn. It didn't need to stop for lunch or breaks or anything. It was named Wall-E

#7 Posted by aquatus1 on 10 January, 2012, 22:58

In a manner of speaking, yes. The population is growing older, the country is getting more and more industrialized, and less and less young people are staying on the farms. Japan already imports far more than it is comfortable with, particularly when it comes to food, and there is a genuine fear that losing key crops will lead to great cultural loss.

#8 Posted by DieChecker on 11 January, 2012, 5:25

I thought the robo farm was to be used in areas that were hazardous. Like irradiated areas, or low lying tsunami areas.

#9 Posted by Device on 11 January, 2012, 8:22

As long as these robots don't start resenting their creators, then I say go ahead.

#10 Posted by Cryptozological Mascot on 11 January, 2012, 19:55

"I dont get the reason for this.Are they short of farmers there?" Ha ha ha ha! I'd say yes!

#11 Posted by xScorpinix on 12 January, 2012, 1:12

You work with robots? Every DAY? I want to know where you work.

#12 Posted by badeskov on 12 January, 2012, 3:01

A little research would tell, I am sure You have all the info Cheers, Badeskov

#13 Posted by bulveye on 12 January, 2012, 21:42

Damn robots will be coming over here next getting all the good jobs and nice chicks :-(

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