Umeda Mikio. is a Japanese inventor and scientist in the fields of precision agriculture, field robotics and agricultural robot. He is also one of leading international experts in agricultural development strategies in Asia. He is currently serving as Professor emeritus of Kyoto University, Associate Council Member of the Science Council of Japan and Honorary President of CIGR.

Early life and education 

Umeda was born in Kyoto, Japan, on 27 November 1945. He earned a B.S. in 1968 and an M.S. degree in 1970, both in Agricultural Engineering from Faculty and Graduate School of Agriculture of Kyoto University, and a Dr. Eng. degree in Agricultural Science, also from Kyoto University in 1992. He served as a Visiting Researcher at University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany in 1994. He has been recognised fully Professor of Kyoto University since 1997, and served as the Head of Laboratory of Field Robotics, Graduate School of Agriculture since then.

Prof. Dr. Mikio Umeda retired Professorship of Field Robotics from Division of Environmental Science and Technology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University in March of 2009. He became Professor of Kyoto University Career Support Center between May 2009 and March 2014. Since 2014 he has been Secretary General of CIGR, and became its Honorary President since 2018. He frequently gives keynote speeches, presentations and lectures about smart farming and agricultural development at many universities and institutions across Asia and the world, as well as releases many publications.

Research and career 

Umeda has extensively held and been serving many high positions both in research and professional career life.

 Jul. 2020 – Present:  Corporate Executive Advisor of MITAKY High-Tech Co., Ltd.
 Apr. 2014 – Present:  Corporate Executive Advisor of Yanmar Agribusiness Co. Ltd.
 Jun. 2009 – Present:  Director of Yagi Agriculture Corporation
 May 2009 – Mar. 2014:  Professor of Kyoto University Career Support Center
 Apr. 2009 – Mar. 2013: Assessor of Yanmar Student Prize Thesis
 Apr. 2009 – Present:  Professor emeritus at Kyoto University, Japan
 Jul. 2006 – Present:  Associate Council Member of Science Council of Japan (SCJ)
 Apr. 1998 – Mar. 2009:  Advisor of Kyoto University Football Club
 Apr. 1997 – Mar. 2007:  Professor of Field Robotics and Precision Agriculture, Division of Environmental Science and Technology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University
 Nov. 1994 – Mar. 1997:  Associate Professor at Kyoto University, Japan
 Feb. 1994 – Oct. 1994:  Visiting Researcher at University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, Germany 
 May 1992 – Feb. 1994:  Associate Professor at Kyoto University, Japan
 Oct. 1987 – Apr. 1992:  Lecturer of Agricultural Engineering at Kyoto University, Japan
 Apr. 1987 – Oct. 1987:  Principal Engineer of Co-generation System Development Group of Sagamihara Machinery Works of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
 Apr. 1981 – Apr. 1987:  Senior Engineer of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
 Apr. 1970 – Sep. 1981:  Engineer of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.

Awards and recognition 

 2011 – Fellow of Japan Association of International Commission of Agriculture And Biosystems Engineering (CIGR)
 2005 – 3rd Paper Award of the Crop Science Society of Japan
 2004 – Excellent Honorary Foreign Scientist of the Rural Development Administration of the Republic of Korea
 1993 – 38th Academic Award of the Japanese Society of Agricultural Machinery (JSAM)

See also 

 Precision agriculture
 Agricultural robot
 List of Kyoto University people
 Kyoto University

References

External links 

 Prof. Mikio Umeda on KAKEN
 Profile of Umeda Mikio on Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
 List of some academic contributions in Precision Agriculture & Smart Farming on IEEE of Umeda Mikio

1945 births
Living people
Japanese roboticists
Japanese agricultural scientists
Agricultural robotics
Precision agriculture
Japanese scientists
Academic staff of Kyoto University
Kyoto University alumni
People from Kyoto
Members of the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina
Members of the Japan Academy