A group of 40 first year senior high school students and 2 teachers from Saitama Prefectural Kumagaya High School visited JIRCAS on November 27, 2020 as part of the Super Science High School (SSH) out-of-school learning program. As a safety measure, the students were divided into two groups for introduction of JIRCAS research initiatives (indoor) and introduction of rice samples at the Hachimandai Experimental Field (outdoor).

The research activities and achievements of the JIRCAS Asia Biomass Project were exhibited at the Agro Innovation 2020 (Organizer: Japan Management Association) held at the Tokyo Big Sight Aomi Exhibition Hall from November 11th (Wed) to 13th (Fri), 2020. The event was a specialized exhibition for cutting-edge technologies and products related to the entire value chain of the Japanese agricultural industry. Countermeasures against the new coronavirus infection such as temperature measurement, wearing a mask and disinfecting were thoroughly implemented at the exhibition hall.

A group of 40 first year senior high school students and 2 teachers from Tochigi Prefectural High School visited JIRCAS through the "Tsukuba Science Tour" on November 11, 2020. As a safety measure, the students were divided into two groups for introduction of JIRCAS research initiatives (indoor) and introduction of rice samples at the Hachimandai Experimental Field (outdoor).

Dr. FUJITA Yasunari and Dr. MARUYAMA Kyonoshin, Senior Researchers in the Biological Resources and Post-harvest Division, were named Highly Cited Researchers for 2020 in the Plant and Animal Science category, marking 7 consecutive years of being included in the annual list of the Clarivate Analytics.

The Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to Japan, H.E. Mr. Ilidio Ximenes da Costa, paid a courtesy visit to the JIRCAS Headquarters in Tsukuba on November 19, 2020.

The JIRCAS 50th Anniversary International Symposium 2020 featuring the theme, "The role of international collaboration in agricultural research to address challenges in the post-COVID-19 global food system" was successfully held online on November 10, 2020.

Dr. TSUJIMOTO Yasuhiro, Senior Researcher in the Crop, Livestock and Environment Division received the 16th Young Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Researcher Award from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) for his achievement in the development of efficient rice production technology in a nutrient-deficient environment in Africa.

JIRCAS Researcher, Dr. MAENO Kotaro (Crop, Livestock and Environment Division) received the "2020 Chinguitt Prize for Science and Technology" from the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.

A group of 24 high school students and one teacher from Gunma Prefectural Maebashi High School visited JIRCAS on October 28, 2020 through the "Tsukuba Science Tour" program. For safety and precautionary measures, wearing mask and maintaining social distancing were observed during the visit.

Kansai Electric Power Co., Inc. (KEPCO) has adopted the Indoor Shrimp Production System (ISPS), a land-based aquaculture method for production and processing of whiteleg shrimp, developed by the industry-academia-government collaboration that includes JIRCAS, IMT Engineering Inc. etc.

The Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) is now accepting applications for employment of a researcher.

The Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) is now accepting applications for fixed-term employment of young researchers.

The Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste to Japan, His Excellency Mr.Ilidio Ximenes da Costa, visited the Tropical Agriculture Research Front (TARF) of JIRCAS on October 22, 2020.

A group of 28 third-year students and 3 teachers from Kosakai Junior High School in Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture visited JIRCAS on October 5, 2020 through the Tsukuba Science Tour program to learn about the research sites and research activities of JIRCAS.

His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik Al Said of Oman, gifted JIRCAS with the Mango Tree Encyclopedia published by the Sultanate of Oman.