Tillering in rice and other cereal crops is an important trait for determining panicle number, but it is also a trait that can be easily affected by unstable environments such as climate change and nutrient deficiencies. The MP3 gene, recently discovered at JIRCAS, has been shown to promote tillering and moderately increase panicle number even in such unstable environments, and is expected to be a useful technology for sustainable food production.

Compared to sudden disasters such as earthquakes, floods and wildfires, droughts develop quietly, but their frequency and severity have increased in recent years, with far-reaching impacts on ecosystems, local economies and people's lives. The Global Drought Snapshot 2023 report, released at COP28 in Dubai, warns of the inadequacy of drought responses for the future, citing the recent occurrence of droughts by region and the extent of damage.

In the climate change debate, the tipping point is defined as the threshold at which a small perturbation can cause a qualitative change in the state of the system. The Global Tipping Point report, compiled by world-renowned researchers, points out that global warming could accelerate the crossing of several tipping points and threaten the stability of our societies.

Soybean seed provides more than 71% of the world's vegetable protein and 29% of its oil, but they are negatively correlated, making it difficult to develop varieties with high content of both. Wild soybean, the ancestral species of soybean, is an important genetic resource for improving the protein content of cultivated soybean varieties. JIRCAS has succeeded in identifying genes derived from wild soybean that increase protein content without reducing lipid content.

COP28 began on November 30 in Dubai, and on December 1, representatives from over 130 countries adopted the Leaders' Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food Systems and Climate Change Response, which aims to integrate food systems into the climate change agenda. As part of the program at COP28, MAFF will host a seminar on accelerating the application of climate-smart and resilient agricultural technologies in Asian monsoon countries, in which JIRCAS will participate.

In 1972, JIRCAS established an office at the Thai Ministry of Agriculture in Bangkok, now called the Southeast Asia Liaison Office. The 50th JIRCAS Southeast Asia Liaison Office Anniversary Symposium will be held on December 14, 2023, one year later, in a hybrid Thai venue and online format.

Tomorrow, December 1st, JIRCAS will be holding a hybrid official side event titled “Toward Building a Sustainable and Resilient Food System in Africa” to commemorate the 30th anniversary of TICAD. During the event, JIRCAS researchers engaged in African studies will give presentations focusing on issues related to agriculture, forestry and fisheries in Africa. Please be sure to check the JIRCAS webpage on Information Page for Agricultural Research in Africa.