JIRCAS Report 2016
JIRCAS researcher receives “Best Paper Award” from the Japanese Society for Tropical Agriculture
Dr. Satoshi Nakamura, researcher of the Crop, Livestock and Environment Division, received the “Best Paper Award” from the Japanese Society for Tropical Agriculture for his paper entitled “Soil Fertility Management for Sustainable Lowland Rice Production in Ghana - Farmer's Perspectives and Soil Physicochemical Properties - ” published in the journal Tropical Agriculture and Development.
JIRCAS research material on board a rocket ship to ISS “Kibo”
The enzyme protein D-type aspartate-specific endopeptidase (Paenidase: PAE), research material used by Dr. Satoru Nirazawa (Senior Researcher of the Biological Resources and Post-harvest Division) in the Food Value Chain Project was selected for the experiment on high-quality protein crystal growth and sent to the the Japanese experimental module of the International Space Station on February 19, 2017.
JIRCAS International Symposium on “Legumes improve our livelihood!"
JIRCAS organized an International Symposium entitled “Legumes improve our livelihood!” at the U Thant International Hall, United Nations University (UNU), Tokyo on December 2, 2016 in conjunction with the celebration of the International Year of Pulses 2016.
JIRCAS International Symposium 2016 "Legumes improve our livelihood!" (Preliminary report)
On the auspicious occasion for the celebration of the International Year of Pulses 2016, JIRCAS held an International Symposium entitled “Legumes improve our livelihood? -beyond the IYP2016,” at the U Thant International Conference Hall, United Nations University (Tokyo, Japan) on 2 December, 2016.
2016 Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers
JIRCAS, in cooperation with the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council (AFFRC) Secretariat, presented the Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers for the tenth consecutive year. The award recognizes and honors young foreign researchers (under 40 years of age) who are highly recommended by their institutes, and whose outstanding achievements promote research and development of agricultural, forestry, fishery and other related industries in developing regions. The 2016 commendation ceremony was held last December 1 at the U Thant International Conference Hall, United Nations University (UNU) in Tokyo.
President Iwanaga attends 2nd CGIAR System Council Meeting
On 25-26 September 2016, the 2nd CGIAR* System Council Meeting was held in Mexico City, with JIRCAS President Dr. Masa Iwanaga attending as a representative of the Japanese government, together with officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry of Japan.
IRRI-JIRCAS-NARO Joint Symposium "Towards Achieving Sustainable Rice Production in Asia"
IRRI-JIRCAS-NARO Joint Symposium "Towards Achieving Sustainable Rice Production in Asia"
Pres. Iwanaga at the TICAD VI Side Event “The Future of Agriculture and Food in Sub-Saharan Africa: Past Progress and Future”
JIRCAS President, Dr. Masa Iwanaga participated as a panelist in a high-level discussion on “The Future of Agriculture and Food in Sub-Saharan Africa: Past Progress and Future” held on August 26, 2016 as a side event of the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi, Kenya.
Japan and Madagascar Holds Bilateral Meeting at TICAD VI
JIRCAS President Dr. Masa Iwanaga attended the summit meeting between Prime Minister Abe of Japan and President Rajaonarimanpiania of Madagascar on August 27, 2016 at the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi, Kenya.
TICAD VI Side Event on Forestry Management in Africa
The TICAD VI side event co-organized by JIRCAS, Forestry Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), EverGreen Agriculture Partnership, and wPower HUB was held on August 25 and 26, 2016 at the ICRAF Headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
JIRCAS Bilateral Meeting with the President of Guinea
JIRCAS President Dr. Masa Iwanaga had a bilateral meeting with President Alpha Condé of the Republic of Guinea on August 26, 2016. Pres. Iwanaga who is visiting the Republic of Kenya to attend the Sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI) in Nairobi, Kenya as a member of the Prime Minister's economic mission.
Cowpea germplasm database focusing on grain quality-related traits is now ready for access
The “EDITS-Cowpea” project is one of JIRCAS initiatives that have been implemented to generate fundamental scientific information to promote better utilization of the wide genetic diversity of this crop in breeding programs and crop utilization. Based on the information generated through the project, we have created the "EDITS-Cowpea database" (http://www.jircas.go.jp/en/database/edits-cowpea/introduction).
Debrief Meeting on the Collaborative Research for Sugarcane Improvement between JIRCAS-KKFCRC, Thailand
JIRCAS has been implementing the collaborative research project on sugarcane improvement entitled “Development of new type of sugarcane with better performance under adverse agricultural environments by using wild relatives (EDITS-Cane Project)” with Khon Kaen Field Crops Research Center (KKFCRC), Department of Agriculture (DOA), Thailand since 2011. This project aimed at developing efficient breeding techniques to utilize wild germplasm and sugarcane breeding materials through inter-specific and inter-generic hybridizations.
JIRCAS Participates in the 5th G20 MACS in China
The 5th G20 Meeting of Chief Agricultural Scientists (G20 MACS) was held in Xi’an, China on May 30-31, 2016 hosted by China as G20 President. The 96 participants included delegates from G20 member countries and G20 guests, international institutions of agricultural research, international organizations and international cooperation initiatives.
JIRCAS exhibit at the G7 Science and Technology Ministers Meeting
Posters introducing JIRCAS research activities were presented at the special event of the G7 Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting held at the Tsukuba International Conference Center on May 15-17, 2016. The exhibition was opened to the participants from the G7 Science and Technology Ministers' Meeting and the commemorative symposium on the May 15-17, and to the general public on the May 18-21, 2016.