Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

The push for 'Farm-to-Fork' traceability and stringent regulatory compliance (e.g., HACCP, FSMA) is driving demand for automated, data-driven quality control across agriculture and food processing. Simultaneously, a global shortage of agricultural and industrial labor necessitates solutions that reduce human dependency while improving operational efficiency. This technology aligns perfectly with these trends, offering a scalable, verifiable method for pest monitoring that supports both regulatory adherence and sustainable production practices.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Enables scanning of captured insects without deformation or damage, significantly improving accuracy of species identification and source analysis.

02

Simplifies handling and scanner setup of adhesive sheets due to the frame, potentially reducing operational time by up to ~66% compared to manual inspection.

03

Demonstrates high uniqueness with only one prior art reference cited by examiners. Easily integrates with existing image analysis systems, enabling broad application across various environments.

Market Opportunity
Agriculture and Horticulture Facilities
$95M–$105M globally (AI est.)
Accelerated investment in precision pest management systems due to the proliferation of smart agriculture, increasing demand for high-accuracy data acquisition.
Large-scale agricultural enterprises Greenhouse operators Smart farm technology providers
Food Manufacturing and Processing Plants
$65M–$70M globally (AI est.)
Growing demand for automated hygiene management solutions driven by stricter food safety regulations, including foreign object contamination prevention and HACCP compliance.
Food processing equipment manufacturers Large food and beverage corporations Quality control system integrators
Warehousing and Logistics Facilities
$30M–$35M globally (AI est.)
Increasing adoption of automated and efficient pest monitoring solutions to ensure rigorous inventory management and maintain product quality.
Logistics and supply chain solution providers Cold storage operators Warehouse automation companies
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent protects the specific structure of a framed insect trap and its use as a set, ensuring high-precision digital scanning of captured insects without damage. The claims were strengthened through examiner review, indicating a robust and stable right with low invalidation risk, supported by minimal prior art.

Competitive White Space

This patent primarily covers the physical design of the framed adhesive trap. White space exists for developing advanced AI-driven identification algorithms, integrated IoT environmental sensors, or novel automated trap deployment and collection systems.

Economic Impact
~$200K/year estimated inspection cost reduction per facility (est.)
estimated ROI · USD · AI analysis
ROI Calculation Logic

Assuming annual labor costs of ~$0.65M (AI est.) for manual insect monitoring in food factories and large farms. This technology could improve the efficiency of trap replacement, scanning, and data collection by 20%, and reduce expert verification through automated image analysis by an additional 10%. This projects an annual cost reduction of ~$0.65M (AI est.) × (20% + 10%) = ~$200K (AI est.).

Speed to Market
6× faster than in-house development
Developed by a national research institute, this technology features a simple adhesive sheet and frame design with proven efficacy. It integrates seamlessly with existing image scanners and analysis software, eliminating the need for new hardware development. This allows for low-cost, rapid market entry. Established algorithms and safety evaluations, similar to conventional sticky traps, significantly shorten the development timeline, enabling business launch in approximately six months.
Competitive Positioning

X: High-Precision Data Acquisition Efficiency
Y: Ease of On-Site Implementation

Business Models & Applications
💡 Solution Provision
Integrate this technology into a licensee's existing systems to provide high-precision insect image data collection and analysis services. Monetization via a SaaS model is also feasible.
📦 Consumables Sales (Adhesive Sheets)
Develop and manufacture specialized adhesive sheets incorporating this technology, selling them as consumables requiring regular replacement. This could establish a stable revenue stream.
📊 Data Licensing
License the high-precision insect data collected by this technology to AI development companies and research institutions. This could contribute to the development of new pest prediction models.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
🔬 Research & Education
Microorganism Monitoring Kit
Applying the frame structure to capture and scan airborne microorganisms or pollen. This could be used in allergy research, environmental monitoring, or biological observation in educational settings, potentially addressing a ~$50M market for specialized environmental sensors.
🏭 Manufacturing (Quality Control)
Micro-Contaminant Inspection System
Adaptable for high-precision scanning and detection of micro-contaminants on products in manufacturing lines without deformation. This could enhance quality control for pharmaceuticals, precision instruments, and electronics, potentially reducing defect rates by 15-20%.
🏠 Consumer Home Use
Smart Home Pest Checker
Integrates with household sticky traps, allowing smartphone scanning and automatic identification of captured insects. This service could suggest pest types and countermeasures, enhancing home safety and comfort for millions of households.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 12-Month Deployment
Technology Validation & Environment Setup
Duration: 2 months
Validate compatibility with the licensee's existing scanners and image analysis systems, and conduct prototyping and evaluation of the adhesive sheets.
Prototype Development & Pilot Testing
Duration: 4 months
Conduct on-site pilot testing with prototype adhesive sheets, evaluating data collection/analysis accuracy and operational efficiency. Refine based on feedback.
Full-Scale Implementation & Rollout
Duration: 6 months
Initiate full-scale deployment across production lines or farms based on pilot results. Develop operational manuals, conduct employee training, and plan for multi-site expansion.
Technical Feasibility
This technology features a simple physical configuration of an adhesive sheet and frame, allowing for easy integration with existing image scanners, digital cameras, and general-purpose image analysis software. The patent claims have few specific limitations regarding the materials of the adhesive sheet or frame, making it adaptable for integration into existing manufacturing lines and cost optimization through material selection. This enables rapid deployment without significant capital investment, leveraging existing IT infrastructure.
Success Scenario
Upon implementation, this technology could reduce pest monitoring labor time in food factories and farms by approximately ~66%, contributing to significant labor cost savings. High-precision image data of captured insects would be automatically databased, enabling AI-driven pest identification and trend analysis for early detection and proactive countermeasures. This is estimated to optimize pesticide usage, reduce food waste, and improve profitability while lowering environmental impact.
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2021-126727
REGISTRATION NO.
7560125
FILING DATE
2021/08/02
GRANT DATE
2024/09/24
EXPIRATION DATE
2041/08/02
PATENT HOLDER
国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構
Examination History
2024年02月22日
出願審査請求書
2024年02月22日
早期審査に関する事情説明書
2024年05月07日
早期審査に関する通知書
2024年05月07日
拒絶理由通知書
2024年06月18日
意見書
2024年06月18日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2024年09月03日
特許査定