Based on the Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems “MIDORI” formulated in May 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) initiated the project "Accelerating application of agricultural technologies which enhance production potentials and ensure sustainable food systems in the Asia-Monsoon region" in FY2022. The goal was to accelerate the application of technologies that promote climate change mitigation and sustainable agriculture in the Asia-Monsoon region. JIRCAS oversees the project under the name of "Green Asia" (project acronym).

The fourth meeting was held online on March 15, 2024. Opening remarks were made by JIRCAS President Koyama and Research Councilor Uchida, representing MAFF, who made a special remark on the‘ASEAN-Japan MIDORI Cooperation Plan’ which refers to the Green Asia technologies. The Secretariat of the Advisory Board then reported on the progress of cooperation with international organizations and countries in the Asian monsoon region since the third meeting, including the successful promotion of the Technology Catalog Ver 2.0 as featured in the websites of UN organizations and the ASEAN Secretariat, and updates on ongoing field activities, including the dissemination of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) technology, and Biological Nitrification Inhibition (BNI)-enhanced whea.

The Secretariat then presented a proposal outlining strategic activities for the remaining two years. These activities include engaging with strategic scaling and innovation partners for field trials related to AWD, BNI, and rice blast disease control, as well as disseminating information. 

The members of the International Scientific Advisory Board expressed appreciation for the steady progress made and provided valuable advice and comments as follows:

• The project should not only implement impact assessments on individual technologies of the Green Asia Project, but also explore system-level impact pathways for the whole Asia-Monsoon region to achieve synergies between productivity and sustainability.  
• Considerations should be made over costs associated with the dissemination of innovations.  
• Opportunities to utilize digital tools should be explored given human-technical constraints in disseminating technologies.
• Green Asia project activities should take full advantage of collaborating with development partners to maximize synergies.