The Division of Regional Crop Research aims to establish lowland crop rotation systems in the western region and to increase demand for and support the branding of local agricultural products. We develop soybean and barley cultivars to address the needs of farmers, processors, and consumers in Japan. We also focus on the optimization of cultivation environments such as light conditions and temperatures for growth promotion and quality improvement of local specialty vegetables, and the utilization of field soil microbes to control soil-borne diseases and pests in order to establish a low-cost technology for sustainable vegetable cultivation. Furthermore, we pursue research to analyze the nutritional values and secondary health effects of crops specifically grown in the western region of Japan, as well as developing technologies for effective utilization of these crops.
