Japan's agricultural production is facing multifaceted challenges arising from changes in the natural environment, such as climate change driven by global warming, as well as shifts in the social environment, including a declining number of agricultural workers due to a shrinking labor force.
To address these challenges, our group evaluates the characteristics of major forage crops, including species and cultivars suited to the warm-temperate regions, and aims to establish high-yield double-cropping systems adapted to ongoing warming trends. In parallel, we develop smart agricultural technologies for forage crop production that enable large-scale operations without relying on the experience of individual workers.
In addition, we conduct research to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from forage production through the utilization of biochar and livestock manure. We also work to resume forage production on radioactively contaminated grasslands affected by the nuclear accident following the Great East Japan Earthquake by developing strategies to reduce the transfer of radioactive cesium to forage crops according to soil conditions. Through these efforts, we pursue research aimed at improving forage productivity while simultaneously addressing environmental challenges.
