The Global Festa Japan 2019 under the theme “Cheer up the world – Your action will change the world” was held at the Odaiba Center Promenade in Minato-ku, Tokyo on September 28-29, 2019. JIRCAS participated with a booth showcasing achievements in various research programs, display panels on the current status of research collaborations in developing countries, mini-lectures and video presentations.
This annual event is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation in conjunction with the “International Cooperation Day” which is observed on October 6 to promote public understanding and participation in international cooperation among the Japanese people.
During the communication sessions, JIRCAS researchers gave mini-lectures on various interesting topics such as the secret of west African yam, ecology and culture of a peculiar fish in Laos, diet of the rural folks of Laos, the super food Quinoa, enriching farmlands to alleviate climate change, and the many uses of Andropogon grass, gathering audience that listened enthusiastically and asking questions to the researchers. The number of visitors this year reached a total of 183,743 in 2-day event.