The G20 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting, one of the eight ministerial meetings taking place in Japan alongside the G20 Osaka Summit, was convened on May 11-12, 2019 in Niigata. In this meeting, JIRCAS President Dr. Masa Iwanaga reported the key outcomes of the G20 Meeting of Agricultural Chief Scientists (G20 MACS) to the Agriculture Ministers of the G20 countries. President Iwanaga was the chairman of the 2-day G20 MACS held in Tokyo on April 25-26.   

The G20 MACS members are responsible for making strategic advice on global agricultural research agendas to their decision makers, including their respective Ministers of Agriculture. Pres. Iwanaga reported to the G20 Agriculture Ministers some of the key outcomes of the 2019 G20 MACS, including the two main themes discussed, namely, transboundary plant pests and social experiment-like approaches to facilitating on-site adoption of climate-smart technologies. The report also mentioned the support of G20 MACS members for Japan’s proposal to organize international workshops on the above two themes later in 2019, and the proposal for the Ministers to provide support to activities that would enhance international research collaboration on the issues discussed at G20 MACS. 

As part of the exhibits at the meeting venue, JIRCAS presented posters and communication materials under the theme “Contribution to SDGs through agricultural sciences”, which highlighted JIRCAS’ research programs and projects aiming at enhancing income earning opportunities, stable food supply, and climate change adaptation in developing regions.