JIRCAS Report
Methodology in JIRCAS’s Research Highlights 2012 report, “Soil suitability map for teak plantation in the Northeast of Thailand,” extended to four other provinces by the Thai Royal Forest Department (RFD)
JIRCAS carried out a joint research project with the Thai Royal Forest Department (RFD), and the results were summarized in JIRCAS’s “Research Highlights 2012” report titled “Soil suitability map for teak plantation in the Northeast of Thailand.” One of the outputs of this JIRCAS-RFD project was the publication of a map for Udon Thani and Nong Bua Lam Phu Provinces (Figure 1a) in Northeast Thailand, the project’s study area.
JIRCAS participates in “High Level Policy Dialogue on Investment in Agricultural Research for Sustainable Development in the Asia-Pacific Region"
The Asia-Pacific Association of Agricultural Research Institutions (APAARI) is a regional association of agricultural research institutes whose mission is “to promote the development of national agricultural research systems (NARS) in the Asia-Pacific region through inter-regional and inter-institutional cooperation.” JIRCAS is one of APAARI’s founding members and has been an active participant in meetings and activities since its establishment in 1990.
Presentation of JIRCAS international collaborative project outputs at the “Research for Development (R4D) Week” of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture
JIRCAS has been working with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on the collaborative project, titled “Evaluation and Utilization of Diverse Genetic Materials in Tropical Field Crops (EDITS),” focusing on yam and cowpea, which are important regional crops in Africa. This project is aimed at advancing crop breeding activities.
JIRCAS International Symposium 2015 Why 'Quality' Matters in International Agriculture Research?
Dr. Masa Iwanaga, President of JIRCAS, opened the symposium. He mentioned several new keywords in international development such as ‘nutrition security,’ ‘establishment of food value chains,’ ‘resilience,’ and ‘inclusive development,’ all of which focus on qualitative development rather than quantitative expansion of the economy as represented by GDP growth rates. He also spoke of the major objectives of the symposium, zeroing in on ‘quality,’ a common aspect of these emerging keywords.
2015 Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers
JIRCAS, in cooperation with the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council (AFFRC) Secretariat, presented the Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers for the ninth consecutive year. The award recognizes and honors young foreign researchers (under 40 years of age) who are highly recommended by their institutes, and whose outstanding achievements promote research and development of agricultural, forestry, fishery and other related industries in developing regions.
Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Visits JIRCAS
The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to Japan, Mr. Godwin Nsude Agbo visited JIRCAS on July 1, 2015 for exchange of information on agricultural research activities and discussions on future research targets in Nigeria.
Outcome of the 1st International Biological Nitrification Inhibition (BNI) Workshop (2nd-3rd March, 2015 ; JIRCAS, Tsukuba, Japan)
Suppressing soil nitrification and increasing NUE is critical to reversing the N-fertilizer overuse and minimizing its environmental impact. Global nitrogen (N) fertilizer consumption has increased >10-fold since 1960s, but food grain production has only tripled during this period, resulting in a decrease in nitrogen-use efficiency (NUE). Of the 150 million tons of N-fertilizer currently applied to agricultural systems globally, up to 70% is not recovered by the crop and often results in negative environmental impact through pathways such as nitrate-leaching and nitrous oxide emissions1. Nitrate is an important groundwater pollutant and nitrous oxide (N2O) is a powerful greenhouse gas. Annual economic losses from lost N-fertilizer is estimated at 90 US$ billion. If this trend continues, annual N-fertilizer application will double by 2050 and global N2O emissions from agriculture will reach 19 million tons of N y-1 by then1.
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology of Vietnam Visits JIRCAS
The Deputy Minister of Science and Technology of Vietnam, Mr. Tran Viet Thanh and 4 others visited JIRCAS on May 29, 2015 for an overview of the research activities at JIRCAS and discussions with researchers.
Director of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture Visits JIRCAS
The Director of the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Dr. Nteranya Sanginga, who is currently in Japan, visited JIRCAS on April 6, 2015 and gave a presentation entitled "IITA: the Leading Research Partner in Africa - Repositioning IITA for Impact in Africa".
Dr. Marcy Wilder, Senior Researcher in the Fisheries Division, serves as a speaker at the 2014 USJC-ACCJ Women in Business Summit
The 2014 U.S.-Japan Council (USJC)-American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) Women in Business Summit was held at the ANA InterContinental Hotel in Tokyo on May 27, 2014. Dr. Marcy Wilder of the JIRCAS Fisheries Division attended the Summit as a speaker. The Summit aimed to bring together Japan’s many diverse women’s organizations that are working toward the goals of better conditions for and representation of women in the working environment in Japan, and featured a full program of speakers, panel discussions, workshops and networking opportunities throughout the day.