Market Context — Why This Technology, Why Now

The global agricultural sector faces increasing pressure for food security, reduced environmental footprint, and operational efficiency. Escalating input costs and a shrinking workforce demand smart farming solutions. This technology aligns with precision agriculture trends, enabling farmers to meet sustainability goals while improving profitability by optimizing resource use and automating labor-intensive tasks.

Key Competitive Advantages
01

Reduces material costs by up to ~20% by enabling pinpoint spraying between crop rows, significantly cutting waste of agrochemicals and fertilizers.

02

Increases operational efficiency by ~30% by automating precise spraying, significantly reducing labor and operation time compared to manual or broad-area methods.

03

Lowers environmental impact by delivering substances precisely where needed, mitigating runoff risk to soil and water sources, and supporting sustainable agricultural practices.

Market Opportunity
Precision Agriculture Solutions
$10B globally (AI est.)
Global demand for solutions that integrate with IoT sensors and AI analytics to enable optimal material input for each field is rapidly increasing.
Agricultural technology providers Smart farming platform developers Large-scale farm operators adopting digital solutions
Environmentally Conscious Agricultural Inputs
$200M globally (AI est.)
Investment in technologies supporting environmentally friendly agricultural practices is accelerating due to the expansion of SDGs and ESG investments.
Sustainable agrochemical manufacturers Organic farming equipment suppliers Agricultural input companies focused on eco-friendly products
Labor-Saving Agricultural Machinery
$350M globally (AI est.)
As the agricultural workforce ages and declines, the need for automated and labor-saving agricultural machinery is becoming essential.
Agricultural machinery OEMs Robotics and automation integrators for farming Manufacturers of specialized farm attachments
IP Defensibility — Why Competitors Can't Replicate This
What This Patent Covers

This patent protects a spraying apparatus designed for stable movement between crop rows, featuring a crop-dividing unit and an oscillating cover unit for precise application. Its robust claims, having overcome four prior art citations and a rejection notice, indicate strong inventiveness and distinctiveness against existing technologies.

Competitive White Space

The patent focuses on mechanical precision spraying between rows. White space could include advanced sensor integration for real-time plant health diagnostics, autonomous navigation beyond towed vehicles, or novel formulations of agrochemicals specifically designed for ultra-precision delivery systems.

Economic Impact
~$100K/year estimated cost reduction per facility (est.)
estimated ROI · USD · AI analysis
ROI Calculation Logic

Assuming an average 20% reduction in agrochemical and fertilizer material costs and a 30% reduction in operation time. Based on annual material costs of ~$650K (AI est.) and annual personnel costs of ~$200K (AI est.) for 5 workers, a reduction of ~$130K (AI est.) in material costs and ~$60K (AI est.) in personnel costs is expected, totaling ~$190K (AI est.) in annual savings. Considering maintenance costs, the net annual effect is estimated at ~$100K (AI est.).

Speed to Market
6× faster than in-house development
Developing a similar precision spraying technology in-house could take approximately 3 years, involving the design of the divider, optimization of the oscillating mechanism, and development of interfaces for existing vehicles. This technology is already patented, with key mechanisms like the divider and oscillating cover unit established. By licensing this technology, companies can skip the foundational R&D phase and proceed directly to designing and implementing it as an attachment for existing towed vehicles, potentially commencing field tests in about six months.
Competitive Positioning

X: Precision Spraying Efficiency
Y: Deployment and Operational Cost Performance

Business Models & Applications
🚜 Equipment Sales Model
Sell spraying apparatuses equipped with this technology to agricultural corporations and large-scale farmers. Offering it as an attachment compatible with existing tractors could lower adoption barriers.
🌱 Spraying Service Model
A model where the licensee provides precision spraying services utilizing this technology. Farmers benefit from advanced technology without upfront investment, while the licensee secures recurring revenue.
📊 Data Integration and Optimization Model
A SaaS model that integrates spraying and field data to propose optimal spraying plans via AI. This can be combined with precision agriculture consulting services for higher value.
Adjacent Application Opportunities
🌳 森林管理
Precision Spraying for Forest Pest Control
This system could be adapted for precise application of pest control agents to specific trees or areas within forests. When combined with vehicle-towed drones, it could enable efficient pest eradication over wide and challenging terrains, minimizing environmental impact.
🚧 インフラ維持
Precision Application for Infrastructure Maintenance
Applicable for precise application of herbicides or de-icing agents along roadsides, railway lines, or around solar power facilities. The oscillating cover unit ensures stable application even on uneven ground or slopes, potentially reducing maintenance costs and improving efficiency by ~25%.
🏗️ 建設・土木
Localized Ground Improvement Material Application
This technology could be applied to precisely spray ground improvement or solidification agents within specified, narrow areas at construction sites. This could eliminate material waste, improve operational accuracy and safety, and potentially contribute to project cost reductions of ~15%.
Integration Roadmap — Estimated 12-Month Deployment
Phase 1: Site Survey and Requirements Definition
Duration: 3 months
Assess compatibility with existing licensee vehicles, analyze characteristics of target substances, and conduct on-site surveys of field environments to establish specific requirements and system design direction.
Phase 2: Prototype Development and Field Testing
Duration: 6 months
Develop a prototype spraying unit incorporating this technology based on defined requirements. Verify spraying accuracy, stability, and durability through field tests in actual agricultural settings, and optimize the system.
Phase 3: Full-Scale Deployment and Operation Optimization
Duration: 3 months
Deploy the final product, incorporating test results, and commence full-scale operations. Continuously collect and analyze operational data to further optimize efficiency and maximize effectiveness.
Technical Feasibility
This technology features a cover unit suspended and connected to a connection member on a vehicle, along with an oscillating mechanism. This configuration suggests high compatibility for relatively easy retrofitting as an attachment to existing agricultural towed vehicles. By adopting a versatile connection method, it could be technically feasible to implement the technology quickly without requiring significant capital investment. The modularity indicated in the patent claims suggests high adaptability to existing systems.
Success Scenario
Upon adopting this technology, licensees could dramatically streamline agrochemical and fertilizer spraying operations throughout the entire crop growth cycle. For instance, it is estimated to reduce material usage by an average of 20% and cut operation time by 30% compared to conventional spraying methods. This could free up resources for reallocation to other high-value tasks or enable expansion of cultivated areas, thereby enhancing overall productivity and significantly improving profitability.
Patent Record
APPLICATION NO.
特願2021-030412
REGISTRATION NO.
7569554
FILING DATE
2021/02/26
GRANT DATE
2024/10/09
EXPIRATION DATE
2041/02/26
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
2023年10月27日
出願審査請求書
2024年06月04日
拒絶理由通知書
2024年07月18日
手続補正書（自発・内容）
2024年07月18日
意見書
2024年09月10日
特許査定