On Monday, January 22, 2024, 64 students in 11^th grade from Sandagakuen Senior High School in Sanda City, Hyogo Prefecture, embarked on an educational journey to the Tropical Agriculture Research Front (TARF) as part of the "Ishigaki Island SDGs Program."

The visit began with an engaging lecture by Project Leader ANZAI Toshihiko, which highlighted the initiatives of JIRCAS and TARF, as well as the pressing issue of nitrogen pollution in global agriculture. Following the lecture, the students were divided into groups of 7-9 for interactive group sessions. Here, they delved into considering actionable steps, both now and in the future, to achieve agricultural practices and diets with reduced nitrogen loading. The results were rich in insights, including strategies for minimizing food waste and losses, as well as encouraging self-directed exploration of diverse issues beyond the nitrogen challenge highlighted during the session.

In a subsequent session, Dr. OKAMOTO Ken shared his innovative work on water-saving irrigation techniques and efficient manure management through OPSIS - a subsurface irrigation system applicable in developing countries. In addition, Dr. HAMADA Kosuke explained his research using carbides to reduce nitrogen fertilizer leaching using a lysimeter - a specialized research facility replicating farmers' fields to study soil phenomena. The students were eager to learn and asked questions about the research methods and equipment.

We hope this enlightening session sparked the students' interest in global food and environmental issues and encouraged them to consider their future career paths.