On August 25, 2025, a delegation of four members from the Rice and Cash Crop Research Center (RCCRC) of Lao PDR, led by Director Dr. Siviengkhek Phommalath, visited the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) and paid a courtesy call on the President and Vice President.

RCCRC is a member institute of the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute of Laos and has long been a key partner of JIRCAS through collaborative research in rice breeding and food processing.

The delegation has been observing JIRCAS’s research activities during their stay, beginning with a visit to the headquarters in Tsukuba. They are currently at the Tropical Agricultural Research Front in Ishigaki City, where they are staying from August 25 to August 29. Their visit is focused on cultivation technologies that contribute to low-carbon agriculture and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Following the courtesy call, Director Phommalath delivered a special seminar introducing the current state of agriculture in Laos and RCCRC’s research activities addressing climate change and food security challenges. The seminar facilitated an exchange of information on important research themes for JIRCAS, including GHG emission reduction in paddy fields, pest and disease control for cash crops, and food processing of soybeans.