JIRCAS Report 2017
2017 Best Paper Award from the Japanese Society for Tropical Agriculture
Dr. Hidetoshi Asai, Researcher of the Crop Livestock and Environment Division, received the “2017 Best Paper Award” from the Japanese Society for Tropical Agriculture for his paper entitled “Labour-saving practices for the external expansion of swidden agriculture for upland rice production in a mountainous area of Laos”.
“Life Science (Li-Sci)” Participants Visit JIRCAS
A group of children participating in the “Life Science (Li-Sci)” program came to JIRCAS on March 27, 2018 as part of the tour event organized by the Tsukuba Science Tour Office.
JIRCAS Research Highlights 2017
The JIRCAS Research Highlight 2017, a compilation of selected R&D achievements for the entire fiscal year promoting the dissemination and wide application of results to academic and non-academic audiences is now available, featuring (1) results in technology development expected to be used in on-site production, (2) results including new methods and knowledge that lead to advancement of science, and (3) results that are extremely effective or helpful in improving administrative measures.
Pres. Iwanaga at the Nobel Prize Dialogue Tokyo 2018
The Nobel Prize Dialogue Tokyo 2018, gathering five Nobel Prize winners including 2016 Nobel Laureate in Physiology, Professor Emeritus Yoshinori Ohsumi, was held in Pacifico Yokohama on March 11, 2018. JIRCAS President Dr. Masa Iwanaga was one of the panelists together with the world’s leading scientists, key opinion leaders, and policy makers.
Courtesy visit to the Director-General of Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of Madagascar
JIRCAS is implementing the SATREPS project “Breakthrough in Nutrient Use Efficiency for Rice by Genetic Improvement and Fertility Sensing Techniques in Africa” in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MAEP) of Madagascar. In order to promote the JIRCAS research activities in Madagascar, including this project, and to build a stronger joint research implementation system, JIRCAS President, Dr. Masa Iwanaga paid a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the MAEP on March 1, 2018.
JIRCAS Science Café features “Going to Africa to fight against locusts”
The 13th JIRCAS Science Café featuring a talk entitled “Going to Africa to fight against locusts” was held at the Blue Baobab Africa, a cafe bar and meeting place located in Azabudai, Minato-ku in Tokyo on March 4, 2018.
“Going to Africa to fight against locusts” receives “Shinsho Award”
Dr. Kotaro Maeno, researcher of the Crop Livestock and Environment Division, received the “Shinsho Award” (literally “Pocket-sized Book Award”) supported by the Chuokoron Shinsha Inc. for his book entitled “Going to Africa to fight locusts” (literal translation of the Japanese title) published by Kobunsha.
2nd International Workshop on Network Development and Information Sharing for Management of Sugarcane White Leaf Disease
The 2nd International Workshop on Network Development and Information Sharing for Management of Sugarcane White Leaf Disease in Asia was held in Khon Kaen, Thailand on February 19-20, 2018. The workshop co-organized by JIRCAS, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University and Khon Kaen Field Crop Research Center, Department of Agriculture was attended by more than 50 participants from research institutions in the United States, India, Indonesia, Australia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, and Japan.
Dr. Satoshi Nakamura receives the Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology Award
On March 25, 2018, Senior Researcher Satoshi Nakamura of the Crop, Livestock and Environment Division received the Society Award from the Japanese Society of Applied Entomology and Zoology (JSAEZ).
MoU promises to strengthen partnership between JIRCAS and ICAR
JIRCAS and ICAR concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), dated 9th February 2018, for comprehensive research collaboration. JIRCAS has accordingly commenced the collaboration on soil salinity mitigation and crop improvement for salinity tolerance with CSSRI and IARI, which are both under ICAR, respectively.
Delegation from the Sugar Regulatory Administration of the Philippines Visits JIRCAS
A six-member delegation led by Administrator Hermenegildo R. Serafica of the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), Department of Agriculture, Philippines, visited JIRCAS Headquarters in Tsukuba and the Tropical Agricultural Research Front (TARF) in Ishigaki on February 4-10, 2018 to enhance the JIRCAS-SRA partnership and provide impetus to the current collaborative project.
MAFF Vice Minister Taniai Visits JIRCAS
Vice Minister Masaki Taniai of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) visited JIRCAS on February 8, 2018 for an overview and exchange opinions on research initiatives for improving technology in agriculture, forestry and fisheries in developing countries.
JIRCAS exhibit at the SAT Technology Showcase 2018
JIRCAS participated in the Science Academy of Tsukuba (SAT) Technology Showcase 2018 held at the Tsukuba International Conference Center on February 8, 2018 with a poster exhibit introducing the research on sequencing the genome of the cereal crop Quinoa and the genome database.
WorldVeg Director General visits JIRCAS
Dr. Marco Wopereis, director general of the World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg), visited JIRCAS on January 31, 2018 during his official trip to Japan.
International workshop on “Sustainable Rural Bioenergy Solutions in Africa”
On 19 January 2018, JIRCAS in cooperation with the World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) held an international workshop on “Sustainable Rural Bioenergy Solutions in Africa” at the ICRAF International Conference Center in Nairobi, Kenya.