The Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) is a regional association of agricultural research institutes whose mission is “to promote the development of national agricultural research systems (NARS) in the Asia-Pacific region through inter-regional and inter-institutional cooperation.” JIRCAS is one of APAARI’s founding members and has been an active participant in meetings and activities since its establishment in 1990.   

In order to create awareness to promote long-term investment in agricultural research and innovations for sustainable development among policy/decision makers, APAARI organized a “High Level Policy Dialogue on Investment in Agricultural Research for Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific Region” on December 8-9, 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand.

JIRCAS participated in this dialogue, with Dr. Masa Iwanaga chairing Session III (A), titled “Scoping Investments in Agricultural Research and Innovation - Climate Smart and Sustainable Agriculture.” JIRCAS also put up a poster presentation outlining Japan’s agricultural R&D policies.

More than 120 people, including senior level policy makers and NARS leaders, NGO and international research organization representatives as well as private sector participants, attended the dialogue and exchanged views on how to achieve their long-term R&D investment goals.