Mirai Saien Accepts PwC Foundation Grant for AI Pest Prediction App

AgriTech startup Mirai Saien was selected for PwC Foundation's "2026 Spring Grant Program: Food Systems (Innovative Production)." The company will advance its AI pest prediction app "TENRYO" using weather data and over 700,000 pest outbreak records. The app functions as an "AI doctor" that predicts pest outbreaks and recommends optimal pesticide application timing and products for 13 crop types.

Globally, approximately one-quarter of major crops are lost to pests before harvest—what the company calls "field food loss." The grant supports demonstration trials on broccoli, aiming to simultaneously improve yields and reduce pesticide use. Results from broccoli trials will inform expansion to other crop types, helping farmers avoid pest concerns and focus on crop cultivation with confidence.