The Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) will host the JIRCAS International Symposium 2026,“Transforming Agricultural Risk Management in a Multi-Hazard World: Insights for Food Security and Resilience from Science and Field Implementation,” on November 26, 2026, in a hybrid format at Akihabara Convention Hall and online.

Global food and agricultural systems are facing a growing array of risks, including climate hazards such as extreme heat, drought, and flooding, as well as pests and diseases, wildfires, uncertainties in the supply of agricultural inputs, and disruptions to distribution systems. Responding to “multi-hazards” and compound risks, where multiple risks occur simultaneously or in succession and their impacts interact and amplify one another, has become a critical challenge for ensuring food security. Smallholder farmers in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are particularly vulnerable to these multiple stresses, which affect not only agricultural production and crop yields but also household income, livelihoods, and the sustainability of local communities. When risks materialize simultaneously across multiple production regions, their impacts can spread through international markets, affecting food supply, prices, and ultimately global food security.

This symposium will bring together experts from Japan and abroad to present the latest knowledge and practical experiences on the nature of compound risks, Early Warning Systems and anticipatory action utilizing predictive climate information, and scientific and technological innovations such as crop varieties and agronomic practices resilient to multiple stresses. Participants will also discuss approaches for adapting research outputs to diverse environmental, social, and economic conditions and promoting their application in agricultural communities. In addition, the symposium will explore effective forms of collaboration among research institutions, international organizations, governments, the private sector, and farmers. Particular attention will be given to strengthening mechanisms for delivering information and technologies to farmers in a timely and appropriate manner and reducing gaps in access to innovation and knowledge among regions and stakeholders.

Through these discussions, the symposium aims to identify pathways toward stabilizing agricultural production, enhancing the resilience of smallholder farmers, and strengthening food and agricultural systems. Researchers, policymakers, representatives of international organizations, private-sector stakeholders, agricultural practitioners, students, and all those interested in this topic are warmly invited to participate. Admission is free of charge.