Africa has the largest land area in the developing world and the smallest number of countries. Its geologically oldest regions are teeming with young populations. It is the richest in high value-added mineral resources, but also has a high concentration of degraded soils. While the agricultural sector is growing rapidly, dependence on food imports is at its highest. With the highest proportion of rural poor, but also with the greatest potential for poverty reduction measures focused on smallholder farmers, the official TICAD 30th Anniversary Side Event on December 1 will showcase an approach that respects Africa's agricultural diversity.

On November 20, researchers from the European Union's Copernicus Earth Observation Program announced that the global average temperature on November 17 was 1.17°C higher than the 1991-2020 level and may have exceeded 2°C for the first time since the 1850-1900 level. Coincidentally, on November 20, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its 2023 Emissions Gap Report, calling on countries to take ambitious action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

On December 1, JIRCAS will hold a hybrid seminar “Toward Building a Sustainable and Resilient Food System in Africa”, an official side event to commemorate the 30th anniversary of TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development), initiated by the Japanese government in 1993. This event will introduce issues related to agriculture, forestry and fisheries in Africa, Japan's contributions to them, the history and current status of international joint research, and research needs. The diversity of African agriculture in terms of crops, water resources, soil, microorganisms, agricultural management, and nutritional supply will be discussed, as well as the points that need to be taken into consideration and future international collaborative research.

The 900th Pick Up focuses on tropical forests, which is also the theme of the 2023 JIRCAS International Symposium, to be held tomorrow, November 17. In addition to supporting biodiversity, ecosystem services, social and cultural identity and livelihoods, tropical forests play a critical role in climate change adaptation and mitigation through regional and global climate regulation. To build strong tropical forests, the key drivers of deforestation and forest degradation must be addressed in conjunction with adaptation measures.

Agriculture in Africa faces many challenges that must be addressed to improve production and nutrition. More food is needed to feed Africa's growing population. The impact of climate change is also a concern. Neglected and underutilized plant species (NUS), along with soil microorganisms, have great potential to address Africa's agricultural challenges.

Alarming research highlights the perilous shift of tropical forests, rich in biodiversity and vital carbon reservoirs, from protecting the environment to contributing to emissions - a potential precursor to global climate disasters. To address this pressing concern, the 2023 JIRCAS International Symposium is scheduled for next Friday in a hybrid format. The symposium aims to discuss innovative strategies to promote the harmonious coexistence of environmental conservation and sustainable industry in the tropical forests of Asia. Your participation is strongly encouraged as we collectively explore critical measures for the preservation of these invaluable ecosystems.

In 2023, we are on track for the hottest year on record, while typhoons, hurricanes, floods, droughts, and heat waves are bringing disasters. The United Nations Environment Programme's Adaptation Gap Report 2023 warned that underfunding and unpreparedness will put the world at risk at a time when climate change adaptation responses must accelerate..

On November 3, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) released its World Food Price Index for October 2023, which averaged 120.6 points, down 0.7 points (0.5%) from the previous month and down 14.8 points (10.9%) from a year earlier. The slight decline in the price index in October reflected lower prices for sugar, cereals, edible oils and meat.

On October 24, in the journal BioScience, world-renowned researchers published titled "The 2023 state of the climate report: Entering uncharted territory".This report serves as a resounding warning that the Earth is entering unprecedented territory due to the alarming acceleration of climate change.