On February 18, 2025 (Tuesday), 52 young agricultural professionals from Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines visited JIRCAS. This visit was part of the "Human Resource Development Project for Improving Food Production Capacity in Asia," implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries and supported by the Japan Agricultural Exchange Council.

During the visit, a combination of indoor lectures and outdoor tours at JIRCAS's Hachimandai experimental field showcased various activities conducted by the center. The outdoor tour featured Dr. IKEURA Hiroshi, a senior researcher in the Rural Development Division, who introduced facilities that test technologies for reusing non-potable water as irrigation water, explaining their principles and applications. Dr. SASAKI Kazuhiro, a senior researcher in the Biological Resources and Post-harvest Division, demonstrated rice varieties cultivated in Japan and abroad, highlighting their characteristics and differences. Given the prominence of rice-based agriculture in ASEAN countries, participants raised insightful questions about these varieties and efforts to develop superior new strains.

The indoor lecture was presented by Dr. KOBAYASHI Shintaro, a senior researcher in the Social Sciences Division, who introduced the "Green Asia Project," which promotes agricultural technologies tailored to the Asian monsoon region. He also introduced the "Technology Catalog" developed under this project to enhance productivity and sustainability. Some participants expressed immediate interest by downloading the catalog.

The enthusiastic explanations by JIRCAS researchers inspired participants to express their desire to collaborate with JIRCAS on research and technology development. It is hoped that the knowledge and techniques acquired during their training in Japan will be utilized effectively in ASEAN countries.