Achieving fundraising with full-chain traceability in line with international standards
Columns
The "Japan's First Next-Generation Traceability System Construction Project," which was the first winner in the collaboration category of the first Japan Sustainable Seafood Awards, has demonstrated a new form for sustainable fishing using technology. We spoke to Kazuhiko Ohno, CEO of Kaikou Bussan, and Katsutaka Shindo, CEO of Lighthouse, who are leading the project, about the current situation at the fishing industry and the future of the project.
Hanaoka:I would like to ask Mr. Ohno, who works in the fishing industry, if there are many fishermen who are still hesitant to take the first step towards using technology and find it difficult to try new things. Is this situation changing in the field?
Ohno:When we talk to other fisheries associations about our efforts as fishermen, they are defensive, but when people with IoT technology like Mr. Shindo and his team introduce implementation examples, it gives us a better idea of what IoT is and lowers the hurdles to getting started with IoT. I think it's a good thing that we can do things together.
For example, the fish caught by other bottom trawl fishermen in Funabashi are temporarily entrusted to Kaiko Bussan, but they are always interested in where their fish will be purchased, who will buy it, and where it will be consumed in the future. It is the greatest reward for a fisherman to hear customers say "it was delicious" when they receive their fish, and there is nothing better. I think that this project is gradually awakening people's sense of traceability.
Hanaoka:Thank you. I would like to ask Mr. Shindo, what do you think about the fishing community, which at first glance seems more difficult to approach as a sales target compared to other sectors? Do you feel that this sector is full of potential compared to others?
Shindo:At first, we were feeling our way around sales, but thanks to introductions from friendly fishermen and customers like Mr. Ohno, the number of installations gradually increased. In fact, over 8% of our new customers are now referrals. Many of them give us direct feedback on their requests and usability, so it's very easy to improve the product, and we also think there is great potential for exporting overseas.
Hanaoka:What do you think about the future development of the project?
Ohno:After receiving the award, IBM Japan contacted us, and we started a project using the blockchain system "IBM Food Food Trust". Taking this opportunity, and taking into account the current COVID-19 situation, we would like to aim to shift to a non-face-to-face business model. We would like to use Shindo's catch data input system at the fishing site, and then connect the data on landing at the fishing port, processing, shipping, restaurants, and cooking recipes to the comprehensive monitoring basis.
Hanaoka:So, with blockchain-based traceability, you are linking the idea of "from the ocean to your table" to conservation and sustainability. That's great, thank you.
I'd like to hear from Mr. Shindo as well.
Shindo:We aim to utilize IBM Food Trust's blockchain system to bring traceability at fishing sites closer to practical implementation in society.
In addition, I would like to use fishing data to assess resources and to develop simple diagnostic tools to grasp the current situation and conduct FIP in a given area, for example, to create a system that can perform a rough resource assessment from fishing operation record data to date. I would like to use technology to simplify the costs and effort involved in resource assessment, making it possible to reduce costs even further.
ISANA used in fishing industryHanaoka:What do you think is important when starting and expanding a project like this?
Ohno:It's all about imagination and the ability to act. Rather than just worrying about the current state of the fishing industry and the reasons why fish have become smaller, I want people, especially those who work at sea, to think seriously about what we want to do with our oceans in the future, and what the ideal ocean should look like, as shared property of the whole world.
One person can't do anything, but I think it's important to try it first. If everyone agrees that you are right, there will definitely be others who agree and want to try it themselves. First, get the word out, imagine, and act. I think it's about trying things you want to try.
Shindo:I think the key point is how to collaborate with problem-aware people like Mr. Ohno and engineers and ventures with technology like us. We just go to the site and talk to fishermen and create things. Our service has been gradually developed in this way.
There are still few variations in technology in the fishing industry, and there is still a lot of room for innovation using IoT. If you are interested, I recommend you get involved and give it a try.
Hanaoka:The Fisheries Agency is also promoting the introduction of IoT in its smart fisheries project, and collaboration between the fishing industry and IoT is likely to expand further in the future. Finally, please give a message to those who are considering entering this year's awards and those who are looking to accelerate their activities in the future.
Ohno:Once we have a clear idea of what we want to do and how we want to do it, I think it would be a good idea to apply for an award like this or present it in front of everyone. You will gain more and more friends. I am also aiming to win the award for the second time in a row, so everyone is my rival (laughs).
Shindo:Sustainability is essentially about achieving long-term global benefits that go beyond the lifespan of humankind, but this is difficult to achieve if it relies on human motivation. However, I think that by using technology in such situations, we can create a system that allows us to work without being limited by human lifespans or motivation.
In that sense, technology is absolutely necessary to achieve sustainability, and I hope that a system can be created in which people with that technology can get involved to achieve sustainability. If anyone unrelated to fisheries gets involved in the future, we will support them, so we would love for them to start working on this initiative.
Hanaoka:That's encouraging, thank you very much. Thank you both for your valuable comments today.
*This article is reprinted from Seafood Legacy Co., Ltd.'s blog.
share
Key terms and concepts to understand seafood sustainability.
