Deputy Minister of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, PRC (MOA)
A delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural affairs, PRC (MOA) including Dr. QU Dongyu, Deputy Minister along with the members from Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), the Chinese Embassy in Tokyo, and the Japan Agricultural International Association visited NARO on August 29, 2018. They also visited NARO Plant factory and exchanged their opinions with Director-General of Institute of Vegetable and Floriculture Science, NARO. The delegation had lunch with Makoto NAKATANI, Senior Vice-President and Masato SHIRAI, General Coordinator and tasted food products using NARO deliverables (Potato stick, yoghurt, barley tea) etc. in a relaxed atmosphere. They also visited Institute of Crop Sciences, NARO and actively exchanged opinions with Director-General on rice and soybean research. Finally, they visited facilities for low-temperature seed storage for long-term preservation at Genebank (Research Center of Genetic Resources, NARO) and had discussion with the researchers.
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA)
A delegation from the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA) including the Secretary General, Mr. Kent Nnadozie visited NARO on June 12, 2018. They met with NARO Vice-President for International Collaboration, Intellectual Property and Public Relations, Dr. Atsuro Matsuda. The delegation also visited the Research Center of Genetic Resources, NARO (NGRC) and had discussion with the NGRC Director, Dr. Hiroshi Kato. Mr. Kent Nnadoize gave a presentation on ITPGRFA and the current status of initiatives on genetic resources.
Wageningen University & Research (WUR)
A delegation from Wageningen University & Research (WUR) including Dr. Arjo Rothuis (Manager International Cooperation Asia) visited NARO on May 28, 2018. From April this year, Dr. Kazuhisa Goto of the Agri-Food Business Innovation Center (ABIC) has been assigned as NARO's liaison scientist at WUR to strengthen research cooperation between WUR and NARO. The delegation met with NARO President Dr. Kazuo Kyuma and Vice-President Dr. Fumio Orito (Government-Industry-Academia Cooperation).
Visit of Secretary General of International Sericulture Commission
A delegation from the International Sericulture Commission(ISC) including Mr. Rajit Ranjan Okhandiar (Secretary General of ISC and Secretary General of Central Silkworm Board, India) along with the program coordinator, Mr. Dileep Kumar visited NARO on May 22, 2018. They met with NARO Vice President for International Collaboration, Intellectual Property and Public Relations, Dr. Atsuro Matsuda. The delegation also had meeting with the Director-General of the Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, NARO (NIAS) and discussed the possibility of future collaborative research with Indian Central Silk Board.
Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC)
A delegation from Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) including Mr. Derake Tonpayom visited NARO on May 17th and 18th, 2018 and met with NARO Senior Vice-President, Dr. Makoto Nakatani. They also visited the Tsukuba Agricultural Research Hall for an overview NARO's R&D activities. On May 18th, the delegation visited the Institute of Agro-environmental Sciences (NIAES) and exchanged opinions with researchers on remote sensing technology.
Deputy Minister of the Russian Federation Ministry of Agriculture
A delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation headed by Deputy Minister Evgeny Gromyko and representative of the Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in Japan visited the NARO Headquarters on May 10, 2018. The delegation met and held discussions with Dr. Kazuo Kyuma (NARO President), Dr. Atsuro Matsuda (Vice-President for International Collaboration, Intellectual Property, Public Relations) and Dr. Hiroki Hazumi (Vice-President for General Affairs). An overview of smart agriculture was presented by Dr. Mitsuru Hachiya and Dr. Kazunobu Hayashi of the Institute of Agricultural Machinery (IAM/NARO). The delegation also visited the IAM Tsukuba campus for demonstration on unmanned robot tractor and exchange of opinions with researchers.
Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC)
A delegation from the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) of Thailand including Ms. Siriporn Boondhoo (Deputy Director General of DOA), Mr. Anan Aksonsri (Executive Director of Plant Variety Protection Office, DOA) and Ms. Thidakoon Saenudom (Head of Plant Variety Protection Group, DOA) visited the NARO Headquarters on April 20, 2018 and met with Dr. Atsuro Matsuda (NARO Vice-President), Dr. Sohei Kobayashi (International Relations Office), Dr. Tsukasa Kawakami (Center for Seeds and Seedlings), and Mr. Yoshiyuki Oono (Center for Seeds and Seedlings).
Eisenhower School / National Defense University
A delegation from the Eisenhower School / National Defense University of the USA visited NARO on April 24, 2018 as part of the "Biotechnology Industry Study Tour". The group consisting of 15 students (military officers and civilians) and 4 instructors were given a general overview of NARO's research activities at the Tsukuba Agriculture Research Hall and proceeded to the Owashi campus of the Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS) for an overview of silkworm research.
Vietnam Farmers Union (VNFU)
A delegation from the Vietnam Farmers Union (VNFU) headed by Central Executive Committee Chairman Thao Xuan Sung visited the NARO Headquarters on April 24, 2018 and met with NARO President, Dr. Kazuo Kyuma, and NARO Vice-President (International Cooperation, Intellectual Property, International Standardization and Public Relations), Dr. Atsuro Matsudo. The delegation also visited the Tsukuba Plant Factory of the Institute of Vegetable and Floriculture Science (NIVFS) and the Institute of Rural Engineering (NIRE).
Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP)
A delegation from Mexico's Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales Agrícolas y Pecuarias (INIFAP) including Dr. Raúl Gerardo Obando Rodriguez (Coordinator, Research, Innovation and Partnerships), Dr. René Camacho Castro (Regional Director, South Pacific Region) and Dr. José Fernando De La Torre Sánchez (Director, CNRG-INIFAP) visited the NARO Headquarters on March 9, 2018 and met NARO Vice President, Dr. Tsukasa Nagamine. The delegation also visited the Research Center of Genetic Resources for an overview of the NARO Genebank facilities.
Bangladesh Food Safety Authority
A delegation from the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority of Bangladesh headed by the Chairman, Mr. Mohammad Mahfuzul Hoque visited the NARO Headquarters on March 6, 2018 and met Mr. Kazumasa Shioya (Vice President for Research Collaboration). The discussion focused on food safety regulations and management practices in agricultural farms in Japan to ensure availability of safe foods.
Russian delegates of the Japan-Russia Agricultural Technology Exchange Program
In conjunction with the Japan-Russia Agricultural Technology Exchange Program between Japan (MAFF) and Russia (Russian Academy of Sciences), a delegation from several Russian institutes related to the Russian Academy of Science (RAS) that included Dr. V. Lomov (Advisor on International Cooperation to the President of RAS), Prof. I. Shkuratova (Director of Ural Federal Agrarian Scientific Centre), Dr. S. Koroleva (Head Researcher of Scientific Research Institute of Rice) and Dr. E. Davoian (Head Researcher of National Scientific Centre of Grain n.a. P.P. Lukyanenko) visited the NARO Headquarters on February 27, 2018 and met with NARO Senior Vice President Dr. Akihiro Sasaki. They also visited the National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH), the Institute of Crop Science, NARO (NICS) and the Research Center of Genetic Resources, NARO (NGRC) and held discussions with researchers.
Singapore Health Promotion Board Delegation
A delegation from the Singapore Health Promotion Board including Mr. Zee Young Kang (CEO), Dr. Annie Ling (Director of Policy Research & Surveillance), Ms. Choo Lin (Deputy Director of Policy & Strategy Development), Mr. Terence Ng (Deputy Director of Policy & Strategy Development), Ms. Ann Low (Deputy Director of Healthy Food & Dining), Dr. Eunice Pang (Assistant Director of Policy & Strategy Development) and Ms. Seah Peak Ching (Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority) visited the Institute of Food Research, NARO (NFRI) on February 27, 2018 as part of a study tour to get an overview of the current status of functional food research and regulatory framework in Japan. The delegation had discussions with Dr. Toshio Ohtani (VP for Research Promotion III), Dr. Yoshinori Hasegawa (ABIC), Dr. Mayumi Kameyama (Director of NFRI Dept. of Planning and General Administration), Dr. Mari Maeda-Yamamoto (Director of Food Function Research) and Dr. Yuko Ishikawa (Functional Food Factor Unit Leader).
Chile's O'Higgins University President visit to NARO
The President of O'Higgins University in Chile, Dr. Rafael Correa and Mr. Rodrigo Verschae, Assistant Professor and Principal Researcher, Institute of Engineering Sciences, O'Higgins University visited the NARO Headquarters on February 25, 2018 and met with Dr. Tokio Imbe (NARO President), Mr. Kazumasa Shioya (VP for Research Collaboration) and Dr. Mitsuru Hachiya (Institute of Agricultural Machinery). They were accompanied by Ms. Nury Disegni (Agricultural Attache of the Chile Embassy in Japan) and Ms. Ayumi Bansho (Agriculture Section, Chile Embassy in Japan).
Thailand BIOTEC Executive Director visit to promote NARO-NSTDA collaboration
A delegation from Thailand's National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) headed by the Executive Director, Dr. Somvong Tragoonrung visited the NARO Headquarters on February 5, 2018 and met with Dr. Akihiro Sasaki (NARO Senior Vice President), Dr. Nori Kurata (VP for Research Promotion II), Dr. Toshio Ohtani (VP for Research Promotion III), Dr. Masahiro Yano (Director-General of Inst. of Crop Science) and Dr. Takashi Nagai (Head of International Relations Office) to promote collaboration between Thailand's National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA) and NARO. BIOTEC is one of the 5 research organizations under NSTDA. The delegation also visited the NARO Genebank and held discussions with researchers from the Research Center of Genetic Resources, Inst. of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS) and Inst. of Vegetable and Floriculture Science (NIVFS). The BIOTEC delegation included Dr. Sithichoke Tangphatsornruang (Director of Genome Technology Research Unit) and Dr. Chalermpol Kirdmanee (Head of Plant Physiology and Biochemistry Laboratory).
World Vegetable Center Director General
The Director General of the World Vegetable Center, Dr. Marco Wopereis visited the NARO Headquarters on January 31, 2018 and met with NARO President, Dr. Tokio Imbe and Vice President for Research Collaboration, Mr. Kazumasa Shioya. Dr. Wopereis also gave a talk aimed at establishing research collaboration with NARO. The World Vegetable Center is an international nonprofit institute for research on vegetable production and consumption in the developing world. It is previously known as the Asian Vegetable Research Development Center (AVRDC) based in Taiwan. Dr. Wopereis also visited the Tsukuba Plant Factory and met with Dr. Kunihiko Okada, Director of the Division of Vegetable Production System of the Institute of Vegetable and Floriculture Science, NARO.
Executive Director of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC)
The Executive Director of the Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Dr. Baidya Nath Mahto, and the Joint Secretary of the Food Security, Agri-Business Promotion and Environment Division, Ministry of Agricultural Development, Mr. Suresh Babu Tiwari visited the NARO Headquarters on January 17, 2018 and met with NARO President, Dr. Tokio Imbe, and NARO Vice President, Dr. Tsukasa Nagamine. The visit was in conjunction with the PGRAsia Project in which Nepal is an active collaborator. Discussions on germplasm exhange and other matters related to the PGRAsia were also held at the NARO Research Center of Genetic Resources.
Executive board of the Danish Technological Institute (DTI)
The executive board of the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) headed by the President and CEO, Mr. Soren Stjernqvist visited the NARO Headquarters on January 16, 2018 and met with Mr. Kazumasa Shioya (Vice President for Research Collaboration), Dr. Toshio Ohtani (Vice President for Research Promotion III), Dr. Koh-ichi Kadowaki (NIAS Director General), and Dr. Hiroshi Nabetani (NFRI Director General). DTI is a leading research and technology company in Denmark that aims to promote the competitiveness of Danish firms in production, materials, life science, agrotechnology etc. in the European and global market.
Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences Islamic Republic of Iran
The Vice-President of the Academy of Sciences Islamic Republic of Iran, Prof. Mohammad Shahedi Baqkhandan visited the NARO Headquarters on January 16, 2018 and met with and met with NARO President Tokio Imbe and Vice-President Kazumasa Shioya. He also visited the Tsukuba Agriculture Research Hall and the NARO Institute of Food Research. Prof. Baqkhandan discussed research on food safety including measures against acrylamide, mycotoxins and mycotoxygenic fungi with researchers at NFRI.
International Visitors 2017
International Visitors 2016
