Information Analysis
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653. Research on Asian Soybean Rust Pathogen in Mexico Wins 2021 PhytoFrontiers Best Student Paper Award
The paper entitled “Virulence Diversity of Phakopsora pachyrhizi in Mexico” by Julio César García-Rodríguez of INIFAP, Naoki Yamanaka of JIRCAS and their colleagues, has received Honorable Mention for the 2021 PhytoFrontiers Best Student Paper Award from the American Pytopathological Society. This paper provides a rare global example of clear geographic variation in the virulence of Asian soybean rust (ASR) pathogen in adjacent regions. This discovery clarified that the introduction of resistant soybean varieties with stable resistance, including the pyramiding of resistance genes, is necessary to overcome the large geographical differences in virulence of the Mexican ASR pathogen.
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652. October 2022 World Food Price Index
On November 4, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released its world Food Price Index, which averaged 135.9 points for October 2022, showing little change overall from the previous month, with most indicators showing declines at the monthly level, except for cereal prices. However, the situation surrounding the international grain market remains fluid due to developments in Russia regarding the extension of its initiative on Ukrainian grain exports from the Black Sea. Last week also saw the release of the FAO report “The State of Food and Agriculture 2022: Leveraging Automation in Agriculture for Transforming Agrifood Systems”.
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651. Greenhouse Gas Levels Hit New Record Highs in 2021
The World Meteorological Organization has reported that the concentration of three major greenhouse gases - carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide in the atmosphere has reached new record highs in 2021. Prominent researchers have warned that the planet is now in a “code red” state of high alert and have called for the need for drastic policy action. The UN Climate Change conference, COP27, to be held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, beginning November 6, is expected to discuss efforts to limit temperature rise to within 1.5°C of pre-industrial levels.
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650. JIRCAS Research Collaborator Receives 2022 IFA Emerging Scholar Award
Dr. Jean-Martial Johnson of the Africa Rice Center, one of the CGIAR centers, has received 2022 IFA Emerging Scholar Award.
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649. Report on the First Meeting of the International Scientific Advisory Board for Strategy “MeaDRI”
Based on its many years of experience in international research collaboration in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, JIRCAS has been working on the project “Accelerating application of agricultural technologies which enhance production potentials and ensure sustainable food systems in the Asia-Monsoon region” since FY2022 as an implementing agency assigned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. On October 25, the first meeting of the International Scientific Advisory Board for Strategy “MeaDRI” was held in Tokyo and there was a lively exchange of views and advice on the activities of the project.
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648. Growing Tomatoes and Strawberries on a Subtropical Island
Tomatoes and strawberries have become common vegetables for Japanese people. Recently, demand for fruit and vegetable crops such as tomatoes and strawberries has been increasing in Southeast Asia, where economic growth has been remarkable. In order to develop cultivation techniques for tomatoes and strawberries that are as delicious in tropical and subtropical regions as they are in Japan, we are conducting research at the Tropical Agriculture Research Front (TARF) on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture. TARF will be open to the public for one week from today, so please come and see the Open House.
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647. Agricultural Nitrogen Pollution － From Planetary to Regional Boundaries
In light of the planetary boundary concept, it has been recognized that nitrogen fertilizer use is well beyond the limits, but regional differences in nitrogen fertilizer pollution have not been taken into account, as chemical fertilizer use rates vary widely from region to region around the world. A study has now been published in Nature that evaluates nitrogen fertilizer limits at the regional level. In order to solve the planetary boundary, it is thought that it would be effective to examine innovations at the regional level, where similar problems exist.
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646. Food Security in Africa Under Climate Change
A paper published in Earth's Future has raised the alarm about growing food security concerns due to both climate change and population growth. The paper suggests that food shortages in Africa can be partially alleviated by rethinking diets, securing water for irrigation during the dry season, and discarding food losses. However, to improve productivity in African agriculture, we need to face the diversity of environmental and socioeconomic conditions and take scientific and technological innovations in line with farmers' perspectives.
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645. JIRCAS International Symposium 2022 Poster
The poster for the JIRCAS International Symposium 2022 “Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Sustainable Food Systems”, which was first announced in a recent Pick Up, is now available.
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644. Green Asia International Scientific Advisory Committee
JIRCAS has launched the “Green Asia” project in FY2022 to promote the application of Japanese agriculture, forestry, and fisheries technologies in the Asia-Monsoon region, drawing on its many years of experience in international joint research in the fields of agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Today, October 25, the first meeting of the The International Scientific Advisory Board for Strategy “MeaDRI", a committee that advises on the activities of the “Green Asia” project, will be held in Tokyo to actively exchange opinions on the project activities. The website of the International Center for Strategy “MeaDRI” is also now open.
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643. World Development Information Day
October 24 is World Development Information Day, one of the international days designated by the United Nations, with the aim of improving the dissemination of information and the mobilization of public opinion, particularly among young people, that would lead to greater awareness of the problems of development and promoting efforts in international cooperation.
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642. Side-Event “Creating Sustainable Food Systems in Asia-Monsoon Region through Science and Innovation” Available for Viewing
The FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2022 side-event “Creating Sustainable Food Systems in Asia-Monsoon Region through Science and Innovation” was held online on October 13, 2022. The seminar focused on the newly launched “Green Asia” project of JIRCAS which will provide a mechanism for networking among various stakeholders in the Asian Monsoon region.
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641. JIRCAS Holds Seminar on Resource-Recycling Agriculture in Ishigaki Island
JIRCAS will hold a seminar titled “Where is the Forefront of Agricultural Research to Promote Resource Recycling in Ishigaki Island?” on Wednesday, October 26, 2022, jointly hosted by Ishigaki City. In this seminar, we will focus on resource-recycling agriculture and will introduce research content for maintaining and improving the productivity of sugarcane and other major crops in Ishigaki Island, while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact. This will be a hybrid seminar, with both on-site and online sessions. To join the online seminar for persons interested, please fill out the form on the registration page (in Japanese only) at the JIRCAS website (https://www.jircas.go.jp/ja/event/2022/e20221026).
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640. Climate Change Impacts on Drought in the Northern Hemisphere in Summer 2022
Extreme water shortages and heat waves were observed in Europe, North America and China in the summer of 2022. World Weather Attribution, which provides a comprehensive analysis of the causal relationship between extreme events and climate change, analyzed the probability of low surface and root zone soil moisture conditions such as those observed in the Northern Hemisphere during summer 2022, and suggested the impact of anthropogenic climate change.
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639. New Estimates of Micronutrient-deficient Populations
Micronutrient deficiency, also known as "hidden hunger, is a serious problem. A recently published article estimates that approximately 1 in 2 preschool-aged children and 2 in 3 non-pregnant women of reproductive age worldwide suffer from at least one type of micronutrient deficiency.
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638. Towards Empowerment of Rural Women in Food Production
The International Day of Rural Women last Saturday (October 15), followed by World Food Day yesterday (October 16), and the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty today (October 17), were all established to raise awareness of issues related to the SDGs.
By improving the environment surrounding rural women, we can expect to contribute not only to solving poverty but also to sustainable development.
By improving the environment surrounding rural women, we can expect to contribute not only to solving poverty but also to sustainable development.
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637. Mushroom Day
Tomorrow, October 15, is "Mushroom Day" in Japan. A research project of JIRCAS aims to conserve forests in the Philippines and other tropical islands by increasing their value through the combined cultivation of non-wood forest products such as mushrooms, fruit trees, and valuable tree species in mountain areas where forests have been cut down and soil erosion has occurred.
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636. JIRCAS International Symposium 2022 Special Site is Now Open
The JIRCAS International Symposium, held every fall, has chosen this year's theme, “Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Sustainable Food Systems”, against the backdrop of discussions at the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and the 2022 International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture. A special website for the symposium has now been launched and registration is now open.
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635. World Food Price Index for September 2022
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released on October 7 the global Food Price Index for September 2022, averaging 136.3 points, 1.1 percent lower than in August and the sixth consecutive month of decline since March, when the price hit an all-time high. Tomorrow, October 13, a side event of the FAO Science and Innovation Forum 2022, "Creating Sustainable Food Systems in Asia Monsoon Region through Science and Innovation" will be held online. Registration is open until 5 pm today.
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634. Climate Change May Lead to the Collapse of Civilization
Climate change is feared to threaten the habitability of significant areas of the planet, and even the very existence of civilized societies, according to an opinion article published in PNAS by a scientist who calls for research into the possible collapse of civilized societies due to climate change.