In the 2026 Spring Conferment of Decorations, Dr. IWANAGA Masa, former President of the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, in recognition of his long-standing contributions to solving agricultural and food issues in Japan and the international community, as well as to the advancement of international agricultural research.

Dr. Iwanaga served in senior positions for approximately 30 years at international agricultural research institutions overseas, including as Deputy Director General of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI, now Bioversity International) and Director General of the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT). Through these roles, he led research and international cooperation on the conservation and use of plant genetic resources. In Japan, after serving as Director of the Institute of Crop Science at the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO), he assumed the position of President of JIRCAS in 2011. During his tenure, he devoted himself to strengthening organizational management and international collaboration, making a significant contribution to enhancing Japan’s presence in international agricultural research.

On the occasion of Dr. Iwanaga’s decoration, JIRCAS extends its heartfelt congratulations, reflecting on his many years of distinguished service. The framework for international collaboration and the advancement of research programs promoted during his tenure has been inherited by JIRCAS’s current research system and strategy, forming a foundation for efforts to address global food, nutrition, and environmental challenges, particularly in developing regions. Encouraged by this honor, JIRCAS will continue to work closely with research institutions both in Japan and abroad, further contributing to the development of sustainable food systems through science and technology.