We are committed to contributing to society by promoting cooperation with farmers, corporations, universities, and national and public organizations.
Please contact us if you would like to use the following facilities.
Open laboratories
Functionality evaluation laboratory
At our functionality evaluation laboratory we conduct research related to the biological regulation functions (functionality) of agricultural and livestock products. The laboratory is equipped with analytical instruments for studying functional ingredients and quality-related ingredients in agricultural and livestock products and for elucidating the in vivo functions of these substances. It can also be used for conducting tests on small animals. There are also instruments with which to conduct quality evaluations of food products, such as physical property measurements, and facilities for taste evaluations. NARO/TARC offers support to external bodies for the functionality elucidation testing of food products and crops using our facility.
The Gradiotron
A temperature gradient laboratory called the Gradiotron has facilities for analyzing the damage caused by cold weather or elevated temperatures, the effects of global warming, and differences between crop responses on flat land and in mountainous areas that have different temperature ranges. One of the world’s largest temperature gradient chambers, it enables us to set a continuous temperature range in a 30-meter-long greenhouse, allowing us to rapidly analyze the temperature response of crops. In our artificial weather control room, where we can control temperature and humidity very precisely, we can grow samples suitable for physiological and biochemical analysis.
Support Center for Industry-Academia-Government Cooperation
To utilize NARO/TARC’s research results for the benefit of society at large, we undertake the matching of needs and seeds by facilitating two-way communication between us and agricultural production sites or between us and private businesses. We exhibit at various trade shows to create new agribusinesses, give technological guidance at production sites to promote the spread of knowledge gained through research, and hold seminars to exchange information. We also support the planning and proposal stages of collaborative research with private businesses.
To promote the spread of knowledge gained from research and of practical applications, we support Tohoku-based regional research efforts undertaken by institutions performing related research and administrative organizations in the Tohoku jurisdiction and liaison conferences for popularization sponsored by the Tohoku Regional Agricultural Administration Office.
Cooperation with Universities
Cooperative graduate schools
NARO is further strengthening its cooperation with universities by utilizing a graduate school linking system. NARO/TARC signed a cooperative graduate school agreement with Iwate University in April 2006, and has been dispatching three to five visiting faculty members to provide professional guidance and advice in necessary fields.
Meetings for promoting agricultural testing and research in the Tohoku region
As an agricultural research organization in the Tohoku region, we hold promotion meetings. There are five sections dealing with specialized fields: crops, fundamental technology, vegetables and floriculture, orchards, and livestock, each with their own specialized divisions. We hold on-site study meetings in the summer, and promotion meetings for each section in the winter, in addition to plenary meetings and evaluation-planning meetings involving all.
Cooperation with farmers
We test the effectiveness of the agricultural techniques and research outcomes that NARO/TARC achieves with the cooperation of farmers, and provide on-site guidance to meet requests from farmers for instructions regarding the implementation of new techniques. We also hold regional matching forums to enable farmers, researchers, specialists, and administrative officers to exchange opinions and information directly. We have also established a research support personnel system to obtain assistance with research at NARO/TARC.
Research exchanges
Invited research fellow program
We welcome employees commissioned by the national government, local public bodies, universities, private firms, and corporations involved in agricultural research, and guide them in the relevant experiments and research.
Technical training system
NARO/TARC uses this system to provide employees at research and development institutions, farmers, and people in the food industry with technical training in research and development.
Inviting and hosting foreign researchers
We welcome foreign researchers who wish to undergo training or to conduct research at NARO/TARC through requests received via the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) or from domestic or overseas research and development institutions. We also invite overseas researchers to NARO/TARC to promote collaboration and cooperation with overseas research institutions.
