The Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) signed a comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa (FARA, Headquarters: Accra, Ghana) on August 22, 2025, during the official side event titled “Transforming African Food Systems through Regenerative Agriculture ” (organized by the Sasakawa Africa Association), held in conjunction with the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) at Pacifico Yokohama.

The purpose of this agreement is to promote the sharing of scientific knowledge on soil management technologies for smallholder farmers in Africa and to disseminate and scale up these technologies among relevant stakeholders. Building on JIRCAS’s research achievements, the collaboration will support the formulation of recommendations for the Soil Initiative for Africa (SIA) led by FARA. Going forward, JIRCAS and FARA will advance joint research and knowledge-sharing efforts to enhance agricultural productivity, while facilitating the rapid delivery and practical implementation of research outcomes to farmers, researchers, and private sector actors under FARA’s leadership.

At the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit, held in Nairobi, Kenya, in May 2024, the establishment of the SIA was officially declared, with FARA designated as the technical support organization to the African Union on the implementation of the actions. However, the dissemination of practical, science-based soil health technologies is ongoing . By leveraging over 50 years of accumulated expertise and technologies, JIRCAS aims to accelerate the dissemination and implementation of these practices through close collaboration with FARA.

This MOU marks an important step toward strengthening food security and contributing to economic development in Africa through sustainable agriculture. The partnership between JIRCAS and FARA is expected to make a significant contribution to the sustainable development of African agriculture.