How was the “MITSUNAE” Innovation in Rice Cultivation Created?: A study of development and diffusion process from technology management perspective

Abstract

Agriculture, especially rice cultivation, has been a traditional industry, and because of this tradition, innovation has been relatively difficult to come by. In this context, the new high-density rice seedling cultivation and planting innovation "MITSUNAE" has had a great impact on rice cultivation. This innovation was conceived by a farmer and realized in concert with an agricultural equipment manufacturer and a public research institution. This report describes the process of development and diffusion of "MITSUNAE" as an example of agricultural innovation, and discusses the factors that led to its success from the viewpoints of technology management. The necessity of technology management in the agricultural sector will also be discussed.