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JIRCAS Hosts First In-Person Open House in Six Years—Experience Global Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries!

Related Research Program
5th Medium to Long-Term Plan
As part of Science and Technology Week, JIRCAS held its first in-person open house event in six years on April 19, 2025 (Saturday).
 

As part of Science and Technology Week, JIRCAS held its first in-person open house event in six years on April 19, 2025 (Saturday).

Approximately 500 visitors attended this special event, providing a valuable opportunity to showcase JIRCAS’s research efforts and global initiatives addressing critical challenges in sustainable agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. It was an encouraging moment for researchers and supporting staff alike, reaffirming the significance of their work. Many visitors had eagerly awaited this open house, and JIRCAS will continue to share its research activities and achievements through various events in the future, including annual open houses.

 

Diverse Research Exhibits

Researchers working worldwide hosted booths, presenting cutting-edge research in an engaging manner. Topics included resilient crops adapted to harsh environments (quinoa, soybeans), rice and field crop technologies enhancing food security in Africa, and tropical rainforest and oil palm studies in Southeast Asia. The combination of poster presentations and actual samples allowed visitors to experience the research firsthand. Moreover, direct interaction with researchers led to lively discussions, with numerous questions and exchanges of ideas.

Interactive Experience Programs

Visitors explored a land-based shrimp farming facility, tasted quinoa cookies and brown sugar from Japan’s Yaeyama Islands, and tried on traditional clothing from various regions. A dedicated booth allowed visitors to watch Nigerian yam cooking through VR goggles. Hibiscus saplings were distributed, which proved highly popular, keeping the venue bustling throughout the day.

Engaging Mini-Lectures

Two themed sessions sparked thought-provoking discussions: “Discover the Riches of Tropical Rainforests," led by Senior Researcher TANAKA Kenzo (Forestry Division), and “West Africa’s Savannah Environment and Agriculture: A Look Ahead," presented by Senior Researcher ISEKI Kotaro (Biological Resources and Post-harvest Division). Each session featured commentaries from Senior Researchers MAENO Kotaro and Sarr Papa Saliou (Crop, Livestock and Environment Division), fostering lively debates that drew significant interest from attendees.

Note: Due to unexpected network issues on the event day, we regret that live streaming of the mini-lectures was disrupted, causing inconvenience to viewers. Recorded or re-recorded lecture videos will be available on the JIRCAS YouTube channel at a later date, so please check them out.

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