Message from the President

Together for our food and planetary health

President, Osamu KOYAMA

President KOYAMA

Two years have already passed since the five-year Fifth Medium to Long-term Target started in April 2021. As mandated by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the 5th Target reaffirmed the noble mission of JIRCAS as Japan’s leading international research institute in the field of agriculture, forestry and fisheries, to enhance agriculture, forestry, and fisheries technology in the world including Japan, and to contribute to the advancement of sustainable agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, towards the accomplishment of the government policy such as the Basic Plan for Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas. To meet this target, the following tasks are prioritized in order to contribute in solving global food and environmental issues.

(1)  Effective and intensive implementation of research and development

  • Towards solving global scale issues, JIRCAS strengthens efforts aiming at constructing a resilient and sustainable system which harmonizes with the environment and mitigates the effects of climate change, and technology development aiming at increasing productivity and resilience to address severe food and nutrition problems. Along with changing international circumstances, JIRCAS also prioritizes on target areas mainly in Asia and Africa.

(2)  Enhancement of function as a core center

  • As the national opinion leader on global food and environment problems, JIRCAS enhances its core center function by collecting and analyzing information on agriculture, forestry and fisheries in tropical/subtropical zones and developing regions, as well as the global food system which has become complex and diversified, and for broader dissemination of multi-dimensional information domestically and globally. 

Over the past two years, realizing these tasks has not been a smooth journey due to restrictions in travel and other activities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as political unrest in some of our target research countries. However, we have overcome these challenges and the implementation of research activities has been carried out almost according to plan, due to the relationship of trust with the joint research institutes and the ingenuity of the JIRCAS staff,  and many research results, such as the development of biological nitrification inhibition (BNI)-enhanced wheat, have been produced which attracted much attention worldwide.

Last year (FY2022), in order to disseminate the Sustainable Food Systems Strategy “MIDORI” formulated by the government, JIRCAS has been designated as implementing agency of the “Green Asia” project to disseminate the strategy as a model for regions with similar environmental conditions (Asia-Monsoon region) and promote it internationally, and with the establishment of an international scientific advisory board, to compile information on agricultural technologies that can be adapted, and to conduct applied research for the local adaptation of those technologies. 

Under the slogan “Together for our food and planetary health,” JIRCAS is systematically promoting its work by establishing a medium to long-term plan, annual plans, programs and projects in order to achieve its Medium to Long-term Target. Although the global issues that must be solved are difficult, and the road to our target is not smooth, we shall always be aware of our mission as National Research and Development Agency using public funds, and we will strive to work together to create new values for the common good of humanity. We look forward to your continued support and cooperation.

Organization Chart

Biography

Biography
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