e-kakashi Adopted for Peru’s Rice Disease Management Project

Greein Inc. (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Takashi Togami; hereinafter “Greein”), a provider of the AI-powered agricultural solution “e-kakashi,” is pleased to announce that the system has been adopted for a rice disease management project in Peru implemented by the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical (CIAT) and the Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina (UNALM).

Project members: Photo Credit CIAT

Rice production in Peru is increasingly exposed to irregular rain cycles and more intense heat waves, along with climate patterns that no longer follow past norms, leading to higher risks of disease outbreaks. Such climate and environmental uncertainty is a common challenge for rice farmers not only in Peru but around the world. In the field, it is essential not only to understand these impacts but also to reduce pre-harvest losses as much as possible through timely and informed decisions.

Example of rice disease: Photo Credit CIAT

e-kakashi leverages plant science–based AI to analyze environmental data collected from the field, combined with weather and crop growth information, to predict periods when disease risks rise and deliver timely alerts to farmers. This allows farmers to make well-timed management decisions and to understand critical information in advance, such as rising disease risk and optimal harvest timing. By utilizing data, e-kakashi strengthens decision-making in the field.

Project members: Photo Credit CIAT

Through predictive insights, farmers can apply agrochemicals only when needed and in appropriate quantities, reducing labor requirements, production costs, and environmental impact. The system also supports more accurate harvest-timing decisions, contributing to improved crop quality and yield, and ultimately to the long-term sustainability of farming practices.

＜Project Details＞

■Challenges in Rice Production and Project Background

In many rural regions of Peru, farmers have limited access to environmental monitoring tools, and data reflecting field and regional characteristics is insufficient. As a result, it is difficult to accurately assess disease risks. Furthermore, farmers often struggle to anticipate problems that arise in the field, and differences in climate and cultivation conditions across regions affect the timing of disease outbreaks, making decision-making even more challenging. Limited opportunities for training on how to effectively use such tools also remain a significant issue.

■Key Activities of the Project

The project is centered around three pillars: deployment of environmental monitoring tools, alert setting, and capacity-building through training.

First, 11 monitoring devices, including e-kakashi, were installed across five pilot regions—covering coastal areas, highlands, lowlands, and the central jungle—to establish a system capable of collecting data under diverse cultivation environments.

Locations: Photo Credit CIAT

Next, the collected data is analyzed to set alerts tailored to local climate and cultivation conditions. In addition, training sessions are provided for farmers and technical staff, covering data interpretation, device operation, and practical use of alerts, to promote the adoption of digital technologies in the field.

Capacity-building activities for local farmers: Photo Credit CIAT

Greein will continue to support data-driven crop management and contribute to sustainable and resilient agricultural production under a changing climate.

Further details on CIAT’s activities related to this project are also available on the official website below:

https://alliancebioversityciat.org/projects/application-technology-iot-management-diseases-rice-peru

■Company Profile

Company Name: Greein Inc.

Representative: Takashi Togami, CEO

Address: Taiyo Seimei Shinagawa Building 28F, 2-16-2 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan

Establishment: April 18, 2024

Business Description: Providing agricultural AI brain "e-kakashi", Offering advanced analysis services combining sensor data and growth history

Capital: 100 million yen

URL: https://www.greein.jp/en