High-Impact Research Achievements 2021

The MAFF Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council in collaboration with the agricultural technology association selects 10 research achievements every year with high-impact and significant contribution to society. The high-impact research achievements are selected from research outputs of national research institutes, public research institutes, universities and private enterprises published in newspapers. Seven researches from NARO were among the ten research achievements selected for 2021.


Development of new detection and identification technology for Diaporthe destruens

NARO has developed a technology to detect and identify foot rot and dry rot pathogens with high accuracy in a minimum time span of about one day by real-time PCR using each of specific primers that can specifically detect both species. By utilizing this technology, it is possible to grasp the outbreak at an early stage and take appropriate control measures, which leads to the suppression of the spread of the outbreak area. Related Press Release.



Greenhouse information can be checked in smartphone inexpensively and easily

NARO has published a manual for the reference of installation of "the remote greenhouse monitoring system". The "Kayoinougyo Shien System" is a remote monitoring system that allows the user/farmer to check agriculture information on smartphone by combining a microcomputer with communication function and a small personal computer. This system can be installed at a material cost of 20,000 yen. By referring to this manual the system can be installed inexpensively and easily which enables the user to save labor in managing the greenhouse. Related Press Release.



Five Operations of direct sowing of onion is made into one step - Developed a work machine that achieves both stable production and workability

NARO in collaboration with National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (ZEN-NOH) of Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) Group and KUBOTA Corporation has developed a work machine for direct sowing of onions. This machine can be attached to a tractor and can perform 5 operations simultaneously i.e., Cultivation, Ridging, Local fertilization below the seeds, Sowing and Pesticide spraying. The initial growth of direct sowing cultivation can be improved while reducing working hours by 24% compared to the conventional seedling transplanting system.


Improved feed with amino acid balance reduces greenhouse gases from cattle manure - Towards the realization of livestock farming with the global environment consideration -

NARO in collaboration with Tochigi prefectural Livestock and Dairy Experimental Center has clarified that the greenhouse gas (nitrous oxide) generated from the manure can be halved by supplying an improved feed with amino acid balance to the beef cattle. There is no impact on the increase in body weight or meat quality of cattle, and it is expected that livestock farming can be realized while considering the global environment.


Development of a prototype of an automatic fruit harvesting robot

NARO in collaboration with Ritsumeikan University and an auto parts manufacturer DENSO Corp., has developed an automated fruit harvesting robot for apples, Japanese pears, and Western pears in V-shaped trees that can pick a fruit at the same speed as a person. The robot prototype moves between the trees using unmanned ground vehicle (UGV) and picks fruits with two robot arms. The harvested fruits are collected into the automated fruit storage system set on UGV. Related Press Release.


Launch of AI-based pest image diagnostic system via WAGRI

NARO, Hosei university, and Northern System Service have succeeded in providing AI based pest image diagnostic system for four types of vegetables & fruits such as tomato, cucumber, strawberry, and eggplant that can be used by private agricultural information service providers through WAGRI. This system enables each service provider to build pest image diagnostic service and provide the same to general users such as producers. It is expected that the service can be quickly deployed to agricultural sites with low installation cost. Related Press Release.


Provision of global scale grain yield forecast

NARO, in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Climate Center (APCC), has developed a global yield forecasting method for maize, wheat, rice, and soybeans in 2018. This yield overview can be grasped 1 to 6 months earlier (3 to 6 months before the harvest) than the existing forecast is published. It is expected to play a public role in supporting the response of APEC member countries to the food production shock caused by the abnormal weather under climate change. Related Press Release.


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