The situation was further compounded by demographic changes. Ongoing rural depopulation in Japan has seen the average age of farmers rise to 67, according to 2015 census figures. To counter the situation and encourage greater cultivation, Asahi Shuzo joined forces with Fujitsu. The ICT company's solution involved the deployment of solar-powered IoT sensors and cameras in paddy fields, with the resulting data connected to the Fujitsu Akisai food and agriculture industry cloud. The sensors measured environmental conditions, including atmospheric humidity levels, ground and air temperatures, ground moisture and electroconductivity. "The use of Fujitsu's Akisai system in Dassai production has created a win-win for both Asahi Shuzo and its farmers."