Tyre manufacturer Bridgestone Corporation has developed an optimisation system for Para rubber tree plantations that utilises big data to contribute to higher yield at these rubber farms.

The natural rubber currently used to produce tyres is extracted for the Para rubber tree, which primarily grows in Southeast Asia.

Issues associated with this tree include risks of disease and the depletion of tropical rainforests attributable to the expansion of the areas of land on which Para rubber trees are grown.

Rubber farms deploy different clones of trees across vast areas and face various management issues, such as how to optimise the number of trees in a planting area and harvest procedures.

The newly developed system seeks an optimal tree planting plan over more than 30 years, which improves and stabilises the plantation yield. This enhanced system contributes to the sustainable and stable supply of natural rubber.

Through the academic advice from the Institute of Statistical Mathematics at Research Organization of Information and Systems in Japan, the system employs a mathematical model that incorporates a multitude of factors, including soil health, disease management, and clone potential, among candidates. The final model is specified based on the rubber farm management expertise of Bridgestone.

To achieve the company's vision, Bridgestone has set a new environmental mid-term goal, Milestone 2030, to further promote the challenges of "decoupling" the growth of its business from its environmental impact and increased resource consumption.

The company provides solutions through innovation to contribute to safer and more secure transportation, as well as it will further reduce its impact on the environment by contributing to CO2 reduction and realising the circular economy including expanding renewable resources.

Bridgestone will continue to evolve technological innovations by combining its unique rubber knowledge with digital technologies and will co-create value through the work with various partners.