Business Alliance Formed with Polar Star Space toward the Establishment of Ganoderma Disease Monitoring Technology on Oil Palm Farms

Palm oil and palm kernel oil, which are produced from oil palms, are the most widely consumed vegetable oils in the world, and are used in a wide range of applications, including edible oils and raw materials for surfactants. Demand for these oils is increasing as the world's population increases, necessitating sustainable production and procurement.

Ganoderma^*1 is the general term for the filamentous fungi of the genus Ganoderma. When oil palms are infected, the fruit yield of the trees gradually declines due to factors such as inhibition of the water transport function, and the trees eventually wither and die. The spread of damage has become a problem in Indonesia and Malaysia, which are major palm oil producing regions, but there is no effective control method at present, and the main countermeasure is to find and cut down infected trees as quickly as possible. However, it is difficult to visually distinguish the infection in its early stages, and by the time it is possible, there are many cases where the infection has already spread to the surrounding area (Figure 1). Currently, many farms are managing the disease by having staff walk around and inspect the trees, but because large farms can be more than 100,000 hectares, the burden of labor costs and the lack of specialists have led to problems such as reduced diagnostic accuracy.

Kao aims to establish technology to manage Ganoderma in oil palm farms together with Polar Star Space which possesses remote sensing technology that can measure objects from a distance without touching them.

(1) Monitoring technology by drones equipped with camera sensors
By analyzing a tree's spectroscopic information (spectrum) with a special camera sensor, it is possible to detect the early-stages of Ganoderma, which are difficult to see with the naked eye. By mounting this camera sensor on a drone and taking pictures from above, Polar Star Space will develop a monitoring technology that efficiently discovers and manages early-stage infected trees (Figure 2).

(2) Field test of monitoring technology at oil palm farms
Kao has production bases for oleo chemicals near palm oil production areas in Indonesia and Malaysia, and aims to ensure traceability to oil palm smallholders with the aim of sustainable procurement. Utilizing the cooperative relationship with the supply chain that Kao has built, field tests will be conducted to see if the developed monitoring technology can actually be applied to palm farms.

CEO: Takahiro Nakamura
Address: the 4th floor of the Maruhiro Kyobashi Building, 1-5-12, Kyobashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Established: April 20, 2017
No. of employees: 10 (as of October 31, 2022)
Business description: Providing data-driven problem-solving services in the agricultural field based on remote sensing technology (drones and microsatellites) and spectrum analysis technology

Kao creates high-value-added products and services that provide care and enrichment for the life of all people and the planet. Through its portfolio of over 20 leading brands such as Attack, Bioré, Goldwell, Jergens, John Frieda, Kanebo, Laurier, Merries, and Molton Brown, Kao is part of the everyday lives of people in Asia, Oceania, North America, and Europe. Combined with its chemical business, which contributes to a wide range of industries, Kao generates about 1,420 billion yen in annual sales. Kao employs about 33,500 people worldwide and has 135 years of history in innovation. Please visit the Kao Group website for updated information.