On April 3, 2026, we had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Virender Kumar (Research Director), Dr. Saito Kazuki (Senior Scientist), and Dr. Iwanaga Masa (Board Member) from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) for a courtesy visit and technical exchange.

On March 13, 2026, a delegation led by Mr. Adam Nowak, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of the Republic of Poland, visited the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS). They exchanged views on agricultural challenges with President KOYAMA Osamu (at the time) and others.

On March 16, 2026, the award ceremony for the Japanese Forestry Society was held during the 137th Annual Meeting of the Society at the Tsukuba International Congress Center.
At the ceremony, Dr. TANAKA Kenzo, Senior Researcher in the Forestry Division of JIRCAS, received the Society Award, while Dr. KATSUURA Hiiragi, Researcher in the same division, received the Young Scientist Encouragement Award.

On March 16, 2026, at the 139th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Society for Tropical Agriculture (JSTA) held at the University of Tsukuba, Dr. DAN Haruyuki, Senior Researcher in the Rural Development Division, received the JSTA President’s Award and delivered a commemorative lecture.

On March 10, 2026, Prof. Andrea Rocchi, President of the Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), and Mr. Sergio Marchi, Director General of the Institute of Services for the Agricultural and Food Market (ISMEA), visited JIRCAS and exchanged views with President KOYAMA Osamu and other executives.

In February 2026, an episode titled “Sorgoleone with Drs. Sakiko Okumoto, Bill Rooney, and Guntur Subbarao” was released on Field, Lab, Earth, a podcast distributed by three major U.S. crop science societies — the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America.

From November 13 to 15, 2025, JIRCAS participated in various events at COP30 (held in Belém, Brazil) and introduced its research and collaborative activities. 

On Thursday, October 9, 2025, a group of 20 members of the Miyako District Sugarcane Technicians Association visited the Tropical Agriculture Research Front (TARF). The association consists of personnel involved in sugarcane production in the Miyako region, including representatives from local sugar mills, municipal offices, prefectural extension divisions, and JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives). The group engages in information exchange and technical discussions regarding regional sugarcane production and actively conducts field visits to production areas outside their islands. This visit was arranged at the request of the Yaeyama Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Promotion Center’s Agricultural Improvement and Extension Division.

On November 3, 2025, the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) participated in the Tsukuba Express Festival 2025, organized by the Metropolitan Intercity Railway Company and held at the Tsukuba Express General Base in Tsukubamirai City, Ibaraki Prefecture. JIRCAS exhibited jointly with the Tsukuba Science Tour Office.

From October 31 to November 1, 2025, the 64th "Harvest Festival" was held at the 4th floor Exhibition Hall A of Sunshine City World Import Mart Building in Toshima Ward, Tokyo. The annual special exhibition, organized by the Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Technology Council Secretariat, the National Agricultural Research Organization (NARO), and the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), showcased "Research and Development to Address Climate Change" as its theme.