The World Water Forum, held every three years in collaboration with the World Water Council (WWC) and the host country, is one of the world’s largest international conferences on water-related issues.

This year’s event, themed "Water for Shared Prosperity," marked the 10th edition of the forum, and it took place from May 18 to 25, 2024, on Bali Island, Republic of Indonesia. There were approximately 64,000 participants from 160 countries, and 23,718 people (including exhibitors) visited the exhibition venue.

The Forum’s program consisted of meetings and sessions on thematic, regional, and political processes, as well as an Expo (exhibition) and side events. JIRCAS participated in the Japan Pavilion and side events at the Nusa Dua Convention Center in Bali, showcasing and presenting its research findings.

At the JIRCAS exhibition booth, there were panel displays on alternate wetting and drying (AWD) to suppress methane emissions from rice paddies in Vietnam, the ongoing research on Subak in Bali, as well as information on African rice cultivation, the manual for shallow subsurface drainage to mitigate salinity, and the Technical Catalog for the Asia-Monsoon region. JIRCAS provided explanations to many visitors, including Dr. Basuki Hadimuljono, Vice Chair of the 10th World Water Forum and Indonesia's Minister of Public Works and Housing, as well as researchers, government officials, and students (from middle school to university).

At a side event on May 20, Mr. UNO Kenichi, Senior Researcher in the Rural Development Division, presented the results of his research on AWD at the INWEPF* workshop organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The Forum was a very meaningful activity that allowed stakeholders from around the world to learn about JIRCAS’s work.

*INWEPF: International Network for Water Ecosystem in Paddy Field. This organization, with 17 member countries mainly from Asia, provides a framework for promoting better water management in rice paddies for environmentally friendly rural development.