Strengthening function as an international hub for providing strategic information on agriculture, forestry and fisheries, and mobilizing new research partnerships
On December 20, 2024 (Friday), six students from the Department of International Agricultural Development at Tokyo University of Agriculture visited JIRCAS as part of their seminar activities with the Rural Development Cooperation Research Laboratory. The visit began with an introduction to the research activities of JIRCAS, followed by lectures from several researchers and a tour of the facilities.
Archived videos of the JIRCAS International Symposium 2024 and Japan Award 2024 are available on the JIRCAS YouTube channel. If you missed it, please take a look.
Innovations in crop breeding by domestic and international agricultural research institutes have not only contributed greatly to increasing the yield of staple crops in developing countries, but also have a significant impact on the environment. A study published in PNAS showed that between 1961 and 2015, crop improvements may have curbed the expansion of cultivated land, reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from land use, and saved thousands of endangered species.
Cocoa, the main ingredient of chocolate, is facing a decline in yield and quality due to high temperatures that exceed the optimum and changes in rainfall patterns.
With the current national carbon emission reduction commitments under the Paris Agreement, global temperatures are expected to rise by 2.7°C above pre-industrial levels by 2100. Man-made climate change is affecting every region around the world, with the Arctic being one of the most affected. A review paper published in Science showed that with a warming of 2.7°C, the Arctic could change beyond recognition in modern times, with far-reaching effects.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) announced the world food price index for January 2025 on February 7. The index averaged 124.9 points, down 1.6% from December, and the decline in the price indices for sugar, vegetable oil, and meat exceeded the increase in the price indices for dairy products and cereals. This figure was 6.2% higher than last year, but 22.0% lower than the all-time high in March 2022.