A drone sows rice seeds at paddy fields in Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture on May 21, 2024. Starting in 2023, Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) has conducted a demonstration experiment to sow and grow seeds of the branded rice "Aichi no Kaori" using a drone. In 2023, the seeds sowed were eaten by snails and birds, so this year JA uses a machine that can drive the seeds deep into the soil. In typical rice cultivation, the seeds are grown in a separate area until they are grown into seedlings, and then the seedlings are transplanted into the rice field. In this experiment, the rice is grown in the same field from seed to rice, which is expected to significantly reduce the workload on farmers. If all goes well, JA will be able to harvest the rice in early October.( The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images )