table of contents
Introduction
Smart agriculture combines agriculture with advanced technology to make farming more efficient and labor-saving. This has two aspects: 1) simply replacing labor by robotizing and automating manual labor, and 2) supporting the decision-making of agricultural managers by collecting and analyzing huge amounts of data.
As described below, the introduction of smart agriculture is essential in Japan, and it is expected that more people will enter this industry in the future.
Therefore, on this page, we would like to provide information that will be useful for those in the smart agriculture industry when registering a trademark. We hope that this page will be of help to you in carrying out your business.
Progress and outlook
An indicator of the progress of smart agriculture is the increase in the number of patents issued for business-related inventions aimed at the primary industry. According to data from the Japan Patent Office, there were 2019 cases in 124, a gradual increase from 2009 cases in 44. This rate of increase is expected to become even greater in the future. On the other hand, the agricultural workforce in Japan has dropped significantly from 2019 million in 168 to 2010 million as of 260, and in terms of age composition, approximately 70% of the workforce is 65 years old or older, making the shortage of young workers and the aging of the population serious problems.
Therefore, in order for Japan to maintain its food self-sufficiency rate in the future, it is essential to improve the efficiency and labor saving of agriculture, and the smart agriculture industry is an industry that is expected to grow. The Japanese government has also set the promotion of smart agriculture as part of its growth strategy (Cabinet decision on June 6, 21), so this may be an opportunity for those who will be involved in this industry in the future.
Examples of smart agriculture (including those not yet in practical use)
-Sensing using drones, satellites, etc.
Fertilization by unmanned helicopter
Sensor-equipped combine harvester
Self-driving tractors and self-driving systems
Agricultural assist suit
Unmanned grass-cutting robot
Use of AI and big data
(1) Analyzing pest and disease risks based on images of crop leaves, stems, fruits, etc., and notifying producers of predicted damage while also proposing countermeasures
(2) Automatically harvest fruit by determining when to pick it based on images of the fruit
Trademark (law) implications
Since smart agriculture incorporates cutting-edge technology into agriculture, in terms of trademarks, the designated goods and services will likely be mainly related to the cutting-edge technology field. In other words, it is thought that the designated goods and services will mainly be in the IoT technology field, rather than crops, etc.
However, it may be possible to designate products harvested under a system specific to smart agriculture as such if they have a special meaning. Therefore, even those who have been focusing mainly on technological development up until now will need to keep an eye on their future business development and brand establishment. In addition, for agricultural workers who engage in joint technological development, the introduction of smart agriculture will require a broader perspective than before.
Designated products and services in the smart agriculture industry
Representative goods and services for which the trademark may be used
- Class 7: Cultivation machinery and equipment, harvesting machinery and equipment, etc.
- Class 9: Computer programs, telecommunications equipment, etc.
- Class 29: Dairy products, eggs, etc.
- Class 30: Tea, coffee beans, rice, etc.
- Class 31: Vegetables, fruits, feed, etc.
- Class 42: Design, creation or maintenance of computer programs, provision of computer programs, etc.
- Class 45: Provision of online social networking services, etc.
"HARAKENZO more" supports those in the smart agriculture industry.
Smart agriculture is still in its infancy, and as mentioned above, there is great potential for future development in this industry.
"HARAKENZO more" would like to help those in the smart agriculture industry protect their intellectual property, so please feel free to contact us for any inquiries.