Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the United Nations University, I am very pleased to  welcome you to this important international conference here. This conference aims to promote an active role for female researchers in agriculture, food and nutrition research activities. I would like to take this opportunity to emphasize the importance of women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities including contribution to scientific development. This morning, we are going to reaffirm the importance of promoting an active role for female researchers in agriculture, food and nutrition research.

In 2015, as all of you are aware, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including Sustainable Developmental Goals, so called SDGs, as its core element. The international community has already started making effort to address these goals including those on gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls as well as food security, improved nutrition and sustainable agriculture.

Our institute, UNU-IAS, is a leading research and teaching institute and our mission is to advance effort toward more sustainable future through policy-oriented research and capacity development activities focused on sustainability. Our institute is in the position to develop research and capacity development activities toward achieving SDGs. In light of this, I am very much looking forward to dynamic and fruitful discussions today. We are very fortunate to have Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Dr. Howarth Bouis and Dr. Noriko Sudo here as the keynote speakers for this conference. We expect professional and insightful input from these  international experts.

Finally, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to conclude my remarks by wishing you a fruitful symposium as   a good start to further contribute through involvement of female researchers in developing technologies for sustainable agriculture, forestry and fisheries with your active participation. Thank you very much and welcome. Thank you very much.