On October 13, 2026, the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) held a signing ceremony in Tokyo, Japan, for a research collaboration agreement aimed at advancing sustainable and climate-resilient rice production. During the ceremony, Dr. Yvonne Pinto, Director General of IRRI, and Dr. HASEGAWA Toshihiro, President of JIRCAS, signed the agreement.

The collaborative research will be implemented under JIRCAS's "Low-Carbon Agriculture” project and will focus on two research themes over a seven-year period. The first is a study aimed at developing a rice cultivation system that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by comprehensively investigating the functions of soil, microorganisms, and biological nitrogen fixation. The second is a study that evaluates the effectiveness of alternating water drive (AWD) using observational data and models.

The two institutions have maintained a long-standing partnership in rice research. Discussions on challenges facing rice production and opportunities for enhanced collaboration were intensified following visits and exchanges, including the 2025 visit of Dr. Pinto to JIRCAS. These discussions ultimately led to the launch of the present joint research initiative, which also involves participation from JIRCAS early-career researchers.

Through this collaboration, JIRCAS and IRRI will combine their expertise and research infrastructure to develop practical low-carbon agricultural technologies that support both stable rice production and reduced environmental impact. The partners also aim to promote the application of research outcomes in rice-growing regions across Asia and other parts of the world, thereby contributing to the development of sustainable and resilient food systems.

Press release from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) (in English):
https://www.irri.org/news-and-events/news/jircas-and-irri-strengthen-collaboration-toward-low-carbon-sustainable-rice