1. Research Programs
  2. 5th Medium to Long-Term Plan

Information

Strengthening function as an international hub for providing strategic information on agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and mobilizing new research partnerships

 

Research Projects

Research Highlights

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Related JIRCAS Report

“2050 Weather Forecast (Ver. 2)” Video Released

As record-breaking heat continues across Japan and around the world, the free online video “2050 Weather Forecast (Ver. 2),” was released at 1:00 p.m. on August 3. The video was produced by the 2050 Weather Forecast Production Committee, in which NHK Enterprises serves as one of the lead organizations. Dr. HASEGAWA Toshihiro, President of the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), contributed to the project as an expert on food security issues.

Green Asia Achievements Showcased at an ASEAN Regenerative and Resilient Agriculture Workshop

From April 9 to 10, 2026, the “First ASEAN Consultation Workshop and Capacity Building: Development of Regenerative and Resilient Agriculture Systems Implementation Plan and Biochar Guidelines,” an event co-hosted by the ASEAN Secretariat and the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), was held in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) participated in the workshop at the invitation of the ASEAN Secretariat.

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Events

Symposium
Date
(JST)
JIRCAS International Symposium 2025
"Accelerating Application of Agricultural Technologies in the Asia-Monsoon Region: Taking Stock and the Way Forward for Enhancing Production Potentials and Sustainable Food Systems"
Registration period:
- (JST)
Place
"Hitotsubashi Hall" and On-line
(National Center of Sciences Building 2F, 2-1-2 Hitotsubashi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8439)
Event
Date
(JST)
Special Seminar with Ms Alice Ruhweza, AGRA President: Building Climate Resilient Agrifood Systems in Africa – the Role of Science and Public-Private Partnership
Registration period:
- (JST)
Place
Hall D. TKP Garden City PREMIUM Minatomirai
(3-6-3 Minatomirai , Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 220-0012)
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Field

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    1572. Development and Global Impact of International “Measuring Tools” for Pathogenicity

    A review article has been published in The Plant Genome describing the development history, global dissemination, and use of internationally shared “measuring tools” for evaluating the pathogenicity of the bacterial blight and rice blast pathogens. These tools have been developed and used over many years by JIRCAS and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), building on the knowledge of Japanese researchers and international collaborative research. The article comprehensively reviews the roles of the “measuring tools” and international research networks, developed and strengthened through international collaboration, in monitoring pathogen populations, analyzing resistance genes, and breeding rice varieties with durable disease resistance.
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    1571. IRRI: Supporting Rice Research Worldwide—Working with Japan to Address Rice Production under Climate Change

    Rice, an essential part of the Japanese diet, is not immune to the effects of climate change. Rice production worldwide must simultaneously address multiple challenges, including high temperatures, water scarcity, pests and diseases, and the need to reduce environmental impacts and greenhouse gas emissions. One institution that has long tackled these issues internationally is the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), headquartered in the Philippines. Japan and IRRI have worked together for more than 60 years through rice research and exchanges among researchers.

    In October 2026, IRRI, the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), and the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) will jointly hold the International Strategy Forum and Technical Workshop on Heat-Resilient Rice Production Systems in Tokyo. This article introduces IRRI’s role and the history of its cooperation with Japan, while considering the research partnerships that will be important for rice production under a changing climate.
     

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    1570. Protecting Rice from Heat: Understanding Heat-Induced Sterility and Building Heat-Resilient Rice Production Systems

    Japan’s annual mean temperature has risen over the long term, and the Japan Meteorological Agency reports that unusually warm years have occurred frequently since the 1990s. How do rising temperatures and heat waves associated with climate change affect rice yield and quality? This article explains how heat-induced sterility occurs and why it is important to combine heat-tolerant varieties, crop management, climate-impact assessment, and future projections. On October 13 and 14, the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), JIRCAS, and the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) will jointly hold an international forum and technical workshop to discuss research priorities and directions for international collaboration toward heat-resilient rice production systems.
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    1569. August 2026 tied as the world’s hottest month on record, at 1.65°C above pre-industrial levels

    On 10 September 2026, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) announced that the global-average surface air temperature in August 2026 was 16.96°C, tying July 2023 as the hottest month on record across all calendar months. This was 0.85°C above the 1991–2020 average and 1.65°C above the estimated 1850–1900 pre-industrial average. It was the first month since November 2025 in which the monthly global-average temperature exceeded the pre-industrial level by more than 1.5°C. 
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    1568. Thailand’s Unusual Black Egg, the “Chaiya Salted Duck Egg”

    In a previous issue of the Southeast Asia Liaison Office Newsletter, we introduced durian as a Thai agricultural product registered under the Geographical Indication (GI) system. This article examines the Chaiya Salted Duck Egg, an unusual regional specialty from southern Thailand, through the links among the local environment, duck production, salt-curing technology, and the GI system. Rather than treating it only as a distinctive food tradition, the article considers how production standards, measurable quality attributes, and regional branding can add value to an agricultural product.
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Article and Publication

2026

2025