Japan–IRRI Strategic Forum and Technical Workshop on Heat-Resilient Rice Systems
Related Research Program
環境・資源
情報・戦略
Related Research Project
Rice is the staple food for more than half of the world’s population and plays a vital role in food security, rural livelihoods, and economic development across many countries and regions, particularly in Asia. In recent years, however, rising temperatures and more frequent heatwaves associated with climate change have increasingly threatened rice production worldwide. Addressing these challenges requires not only the development of heat-resilient rice varieties, but also the integration of diverse research fields, including crop management, climate impact assessment, environmental monitoring, remote sensing, and digital technologies.
In June 2026, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) convened the kick-off meeting of the Cool Rice for a Warming World (CoolRice) project in Los Baños, Philippines. The project brings together the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF), IRRI, JIRCAS, NARO, and other partners to promote the development of heat-tolerant rice varieties and low-cost, low-greenhouse-gas-emission rice cultivation technologies. The initiative aims to strengthen food security and enhance climate resilience across Asia. The meeting highlighted the importance of integrating research in breeding, crop physiology, crop management, climate impact assessment, and geospatial analysis, while reaffirming the need for stronger international research collaboration.
Building on the shared priorities identified through CoolRice, this Forum and Workshop aims to further strengthen collaboration between Japanese research institutions and IRRI, explore future directions for research on heat-resilient rice production systems, and discuss practical approaches for advancing joint research, capacity development, researcher exchange, and international research networking.
The Forum will bring together policymakers, researchers, university representatives, and private-sector stakeholders to discuss key challenges facing rice production under climate change, priority research areas, and opportunities for international collaboration. The Technical Workshop will provide a platform for researchers and technical experts to exchange research findings, resources, data, and analytical approaches, while exploring concrete opportunities for joint research and scientific exchange. Through these activities, the event seeks to strengthen international research networks centered on Japan and IRRI and contribute to sustainable rice production and global food security in a changing climate.
- Organized by
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International Rice Research Institute
- Co-organized by
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Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences
National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO)
- Date
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2026-10-13(Tue) 10:00～17:00
～2026-10-14(Wed) 09:00～16:00 (JST) - Place
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2026-10-13: Hitotsubashi Hall (2F, National Center of Sciences Building, 2-1-2 Hitotsubashi,Chiyoda-ku,Tokyo 101-8439, Japan)
2026-10-14: IINO Conference Center (4F, IINO BUILDING, 2-1-1 Uchisaiwaicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-0011, Japan)
*All sessions will be held in person - Program
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※ Schedule is subject to change.
DAY 1
Developing a Global Research Roadmap for Climate-Resilient Rice Production
Language: Japanese and English (simultaneous interpretation)
Venue: Hitotsubashi Hall09:40–10:00 Registration
10:00–10:20 Opening Remarks
- Mr. SATO Shin, Director-General, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council Secretariat, MAFF
- Dr. HASEGAWA Toshihiro, President, JIRCAS
- Dr. CHIBA Kazuhiro, President, NARO
- Dr. Yvonne Pinto, Director General, IRRI
10:20–12:00 Session 1: Strategic Perspectives
- MAFF’s Vision for Climate-Resilient Agriculture and Global Cooperation
Ms. UESUGI Noriko, Director, International Research Collaboration Division, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council Secretariat, MAFF - Climate Change and the Future of Rice Systems: Challenges and Opportunities
Dr. HASEGAWA Toshihiro, President, JIRCAS - Scientific Innovation for Heat-Resilient Rice Systems
Dr. MORITA Satoshi, Vice President, NARO - Mobilizing Japan–IRRI Science to Transform Global Rice Systems under Climate Change
Dr. Yvonne Pinto, Director General, IRRI - Discussion and Q&A
12:00–13:30 Lunch Break
13:30–14:50 Session 2: Scientific Priorities for Heat-Resilient Rice Systems
Moderator: Dr. Virender Kumar, IRRI- Theme 1: Understanding Heat Stress Risks
Climate Risk Assessment and Future Projections of Rice Heat Stress: Insights from Multi-site Canopy Micrometeorological Monitoring
Dr. YOSHIMOTO Mayumi, Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, NARO - Theme 2: Developing Heat-Resilient Rice Varieties (I)
Advancing Research on Daytime Heat Escape in Rice
Dr. ISHIMARU Tsutomu, Central Region Agricultural Research Center, NARO - Theme 3: Developing Heat-Resilient Rice Varieties (II)
Optimizing Grain Quality under Warming Nights
Dr. Nese Sreenivasulu, IRRI (Video presentation) - Theme 4: Climate-Smart Rice Systems
Agronomic Adaptation Options, Adaptation–Mitigation Synergies and Trade-offs; Digital Technologies and Decision Support
Dr. MINAMIKAWA Kazunori, Crop, Livestock and Environment Division, JIRCAS
- Discussion and Q&A
14:50–15:40 Session 3: Panel Discussion
- What Should Be the Global Research Agenda for Heat-Resilient Rice Systems?
- Panelists from JIRCAS, NARO and IRRI
- Moderator: Dr. Virender Kumar, IRRI
- Discussion topics: Scientific gaps; breakthroughs needed by 2035; Japan’s comparative advantages; international partnerships; pathways to impact.
15:40–16:00 Coffee Break
16:00–16:55 Session 4: Roundtable Discussion
- Building an International Research and Innovation Network for Heat-Resilient Rice Systems
- Ms. UESUGI Noriko, Director, International Research Collaboration Division, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council Secretariat, MAFF
- Dr. HASEGAWA Toshihiro, President, JIRCAS
- Dr. MORITA Satoshi, Vice President, NARO
- Dr. Yvonne Pinto, Director General, IRRI
- Moderator: Dr. IIYAMA Miyuki, JIRCAS
16:55–17:00 Closing Remarks
- Dr. YANAGIHARA Seiji, Vice-President, JIRCAS
DAY 2
Building Scientific Collaboration for Next-Generation Climate-Resilient Rice Research
Language: English
Venue: IINO Hall & Conference Center
09:00–09:05 Opening Remarks and Introduction to the Technical Workshop- Dr. SAITO Kazuki, IRRI
09:05–10:35 Session 1: Research Activities in Japan
- Chair: Dr. IIZUMI Toshichika, Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, NARO
- Dr. NAKAGAWA Hiroshi, Research Center for Agricultural Information Technology, NARO
- Dr. HIRABAYASHI Hideyuki, Institute of Crop Science, NARO
- Dr. TODA Yusuke, Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, NARO
- Dr. KOBAYASHI Asako, Department of Crop Breeding, Fukui Agricultural Experiment Station
- Asst. Prof. Suriyasak Chetphilin, Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Kyushu University
- Asst. Prof. Yuchen Qu, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo
10:35–10:45 Coffee Break
10:45–12:20 Session 2: Research Activities at IRRI
- Chair: Dr. SAITO Kazuki, IRRI
- Dr. Alice Laborte, IRRI
- Dr. Reuben James Buenafe, IRRI
- Dr. Venuprasad Ramaiah, IRRI (video presentation)
- Dr. Sung Ryul Kim, IRRI
- Dr. Ando Radanielson, IRRI
- Dr. Tao Li, IRRI
- Asst. Prof. YAMAGUCHI Tomoaki, Faculty of Applied Biological Sciences, Gifu University
12:20–13:20 Lunch Break
13:20–14:50 Session 3: Emerging Research and Collaboration Opportunities
- Chair: Dr. OMORI Keisuke, JIRCAS
- Dr. OGAWA Daisuke, Institute of Crop Science, NARO
- Dr. KAWAI Tsubasa, Institute of Crop Science, NARO
- Dr. IIZUMI Toshichika, Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences, NARO
- Prof. WADA Hiroshi, Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University
- Prof. SUGIURA Daisuke, Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences, Nagoya University
- Dr. SASAKI Kazuhiro, Biological Resources and Post-harvest Division, JIRCAS
14:50–15:00 Closing Summary
- Dr. Virender Kumar, IRRI
Key messages and future directions for Japan–IRRI scientific collaboration
15:00–16:00 Networking and Collaboration Exchange
Informal networking session for Japanese and IRRI scientists to exchange research interests, discuss potential collaborations, and build professional networks. Participants are encouraged to exchange business cards and explore opportunities for joint research, researcher exchange, proposal development, and future scientific collaboration. - Registration period
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- (JST)
- Registration
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Registration deadline:(JST)NoticeOn-site registration will be available for participants who have not registered in advance.
- Poster
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Contact
Information and Strategy Program
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Address1-1 Ohwashi, Tsukuba Ibaraki 305-8686 Japan
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Telephone+81-29-838-6394
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Emailinfo-pr@jircas.go.jp