JIRCAS has its tropical and island research base in Ishigaki City (Ishigaki Island), Okinawa Prefecture. Ishigaki Island, which is famous for tourism, belongs to the tropical region and is characterized by high temperature and high humidity, with an annual average temperature of 24.3 °C and annual average rainfall of 2,107 mm. Under such climatic and geographical conditions of tropical and island regions, which are similar to those of the overseas research sites of JIRCAS, we are engaged in research and development of agricultural production technologies that can be applied to tropical and subtropical developing regions and island regions.

Among the 16 projects in the JIRCAS 5th Medium to Long-term Plan, which was launched in April 2021, the following two projects – “Yama-Sato-Umi agroecosystem connectivity” and “Tropical crop genetic resources”, are being conducted mainly at TARF.

Development and evaluation of environmental conservation technologies for tropical islands through an approach emphasizing Yama-Sato-Umi (Ridge-to-reef agroecosystem) connectivity [Yama-Sato-Umi agroecosystem connectivity]

On tropical islands, tropical rainforests, mangrove forests, and rich coral reef ecosystems have been formed, and people have been living with the benefits of nature. These ecosystems have also played an important role in biodiversity and the global carbon cycle. In recent years, however, environmental problems such as degradation of forests and mangroves, nitrogen runoff due to excessive use of chemical fertilizers on farmland, and soil runoff from sloping farmland due to rainfall have become apparent, causing serious damage to coral reefs and the marine environment. Japan is also an island nation, where everything from the mountains to the sea is closely connected through material circulation. As it is said that “The sea is longing for the forest”, the deterioration of the environment in the mountains and villages also affects the sea. On islands, an integrated approach through the mountains, villages to the sea is necessary for sustainable development, particularly on the islands where those different topographical conditions are continuously connected. Based on the results of previous projects, this project aims to build a healthy material cycle from the mountains to the sea by developing technologies to reduce the environmental load and by conducting resource circulation in the mountains, villages, and seas of tropical islands.　

Advancement of tropical genetic resources utilization through the development of database, technologies and research networking [Tropical crop genetic resources]

TARF is a tropical and island agricultural research center located in a tropical environment, and possesses a large number of genetic resources for sugarcane, indica rice, tropical fruits, and Brachiaria (tropical forage grass). These tropical crops play important roles as food, energy production, calorie and nutrient sources, cash crops, and fodder in the producing regions. Amid concerns about global climate change, sustainable and stable production of these crops is an urgent issue. The introduction of tropical crops and their cultivation and dissemination technologies is expected to be one of the measures to combat global warming in Japan, and will contribute to the expansion of production areas and diversification of food and nutrition sources. This project aims to create shared resource of information, technology, and materials, and contribute to the promotion of sustainable production under unstable environmental conditions, as well as production and utilization in Japan through the research networking of tropical crop genetic resources to share issues with domestic and overseas organizations, and development of varieties and technologies that take advantage of the diversity.

As the only national agricultural research institute in Japan capable of conducting empirical research under tropical crop cultivation conditions, JIRCAS has a major mission to contribute to domestic and international agriculture.

As announced in Pick up 410, as a part of the public relations activities for FY2021, we will hold the 15th TARF Open House for one week from November 8 (Monday) to introduce the research activities of TARF to the citizens of Ishigaki and the general public. We hope that this year’s Open House will be a good opportunity to further deepen the relationship between TARF and the citizens of Ishigaki, as well as people around the world, and that the research outputs and other information provided by TARF will be useful to everyone.

The 15th TARF Open House (Online)

Date and time: November 8 (Mon) to 14 (Sun), 2021
Place: Online at https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/event/2021/tarfopenhouse (This page will be open from Monday, November 8 to Sunday, November 14.)

Contributors: OMAE Hide, ANZAI Toshihiko and YAMANAKA Shinsuke (Tropical Agriculture Research Front)