The JIRCAS Tropical Agriculture Research Front (TARF, locally known as “Nekken”) successfully held the 56th TARF Public Lecture, titled “Understanding the Relationship Between the Environment and Nitrogen,” on Friday, January 23, 2026, from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM at the Audio-Visual Room on the 2nd floor of the Ishigaki City Health and Welfare Center. The event was attended by 34 participants.

Nitrogen is an essential element for life and agricultural production, but its excessive use and release can cause global environmental problems such as water pollution and increased greenhouse gas emissions. Because of this, nitrogen is a topic that is both familiar and important to everyone when thinking about a sustainable society. In this lecture, Dr. HAMADA Kosuke presented the latest scientific knowledge on nitrogen and introduced research conducted at TARF, including initiatives to maintain food production while minimizing environmental impact.

During the Q&A session after the lecture, participants asked many questions, including requests for more detailed explanations about research using semi-carbonized materials introduced in the talk. Even after the session ended, several participants gathered around the speaker to ask further questions, reflecting a strong interest in research on nitrogen and the environment. We are grateful for this valuable exchange of ideas.