Farm researchers in Hokkaido are trying to improve rice cultivation through satellite photographs that analyze the quality of rice plants, according to researchers.
The researchers plan to start using a new satellite from U.S. firm Orbital Imaging Corp. in July with the hope of collecting more accurate data on plants. The new satellite will be equipped with sensors capable of distinguishing 200 wavelength ranges.
According to the researchers, high-resolution satellite photos can determine the precise hues of the leaves of rice plants, which in turn can provide key information on how much protein is in each plant.