On June 30, 2024 (Sun), the Tropical Agriculture Research Front (TARF) of JIRCAS (JIRCAS-TARF) held its 18th Open House, its first in five years. A total of 530 people, including families, visited TARF and participated in mini-lectures and a quiz stamp rally.

In the mini-lectures, three researchers explained topics such as sugarcane cultivation in the Philippines (by Dr. ANZAI Toshihiko, Project Leader at TARF), crops originating from Africa (by Dr. MURANAKA Satoshi, Head of International Relations Section, Information and Public Relations Office, JIRCAS), and the decline of seaweed beds due to the increase in green sea turtle population (by Dr. OKUYAMA Junichi (Chief Researcher, Fisheries Technology Research Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency (FRA)*). The sessions were well-attended, with many people standing, and we received numerous questions and valuable feedback after each lecture.

We also had many participants visit the exhibition booths of four research groups (rice, sugarcane, tropical fruits, and island environments), where visitors explored the latest research results related to sustainable agricultural development on Ishigaki Island.

Additionally, children participated in a quiz stamp rally, where they learned about TARF’s research activities and viewed agricultural equipment and machinery on display.

Despite concerns about heatstroke due to the hot weather, the event was successfully held without any major health issues, for which the staff and TARF’s mascot character, "Nekken-kun," are grateful.

*Chief Researcher OKUYAMA Junichi was invited from the Yaeyama Branch of the FRA’s Fisheries Technology Research Institute on Ishigaki Island through cooperative efforts.