The G7 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting was held at the Seagaia Convention Center in Miyazaki City, Miyazaki Prefecture on April 22-23, 2023, and JIRCAS, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), set up an exhibition booth to introduce BNI-enabled wheat to G7 ministers, government officials and international organizations such as FAO.

At the exhibition booth, JIRCAS presented the BNI-enabled wheat using panels and explained the technology to the G7 ministers and other dignitaries who stopped by the booth. The BNI technology is currently being tested at the JIRCAS Headquarters(Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture) and can significantly reduce the amount of nitrogen fertilizer application and increase crop yield.

At the working lunch on 22 April, JIRCAS President Koyama gave a presentation entitled “Science Technology and Innovation for Sustainable Agri-food Systems" to G7 representatives focusing on three topics: 1) Biological Nitrification Inhibition (BNI), 2) Long-lasting Field Studies in Africa, and 3) Sustainable Agri-food Systems in Asia.

BNI-enabled wheat, successfully developed by JIRCAS as a result of collaborative research with international organizations, is expected to maintain yield with 60% less nitrogen fertilizer use, reduce chemical fertilizer use, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Please visit the following websites for details.

G7 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting in Miyazaki (April 22-23, 2023)
https://www.maff.go.jp/j/press/y_kokusai/kikou/230423.html

Overview of the G7 Agriculture Ministers' Meeting in Miyazaki (Press release in Japanese)
https://www.maff.go.jp/j/press/y_kokusai/kikou/230423.html

2023 G7 Agriculture Ministers' Communique  https://www.maff.go.jp/j/press/y_kokusai/kikou/attach/pdf/230423-1.pdf 

Miyazaki Actions  https://www.maff.go.jp/e/policies/inter_relate/attach/pdf/230308-2.pdf

G7 2023 Miyazaki  https://www.g7miyazaki2023.jp/english/