National Agriculture and Food Research Organization 　President　Takeshi HORIE, Ph. D

An affluent Japanese society in the 21st century will not realized without growing robust agricultural industries which ensures the food self-efficiency, food safety, and production of alternative energy source, such as biofuels.The mission of NARO is to develop and attain agricultural industries that are designed for the 21st century in Japan through research, developing technologies and human resource development.

The major issue shared by all humankind in the 21st century is how to respond to the increases in demand for food, resources and energy, with an increasing population while maintaining economic growth. This means that mankind is required to respond to these global environmental issues, which threaten the foundations of human survival. One approach to addressing some of these issues is to establish a recycling-based society, which includes the production and utilization of biofuels produced by a high-yielding and sustainable agricultural industry. In the 20th century, the development of industrial technologies resulted in various conveniences for mankind, which also promoted global economic development. On the other hand, a number of monumental environmental issues arose, due to the development of this resource ‘consumption-based’ society. In the 21st century, it will be important to develop agricultural concepts and technologies which are based on the principals of environmental harmony, resource recycling, and sustainability, in order to establish and maintain a wealthy society.

The following are important aspects of the role of agriculture in the 21st century:

• a stable food supply based on a high degree of food self-sufficiency
• the supply of high-quality food from agricultural and livestock products with a high degree of food and product safety,combined with a degree of reassurance and health-promoting benefits.
• a central role in a recycling-based society, including the production and utilization of biomass energy sources.
• an agricultural community that develops and contributes to environmental and cultural values.

Compared with other industries, Japanese agricultural industries have been in decline since the 1960s, and at presentJapan's food self-sufficient ratio declined to 39% on a calorie basis and self-sufficiency ratio of grains on the weight basis declined to 27%. Furthermore, the percentage of elderly farmers in the farming community has increased to over 50%, and this aging population may endanger the continuation of agriculture in Japan as these farmers retire from the industry. The main reason for the decline in Japanese agriculture is considered to be the difference between domestic and foreign prices of agricultural products, which became more apparent with further economic globalization.

The major present targets of NARO's research are: enhancing crop productivity, reducing production costs, improving food safety, producing functional foods, enhancing environmentally-friendly farming, producing biomass fuels, adapting present farming system to global warming,, and advancing multifunctionality in agriculture. Through promoting such research and developments, we will make a breakthrough in agricultural technologies and lead Japanese agricultural industries to a desirable position among 21st century.

NARO was established in April 2001, and the Bio-Oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution (BRAIN) was integrated with NARO in October 2003. In April 2006, NARO’s role was further expanded by the integration of the National Institute for Rural Engineering (NIRE) and the National Food Research Institute (NFRI). In addition, NARO took over the function of the National Farmers Academy under a 5 year (2006-2011, the second stage) plan. With these amalgamations, NARO was transformed into an independent, non-government administrative institution. At the same time, the organization was fully reviewed and redesigned into a new structure holding cross-sectoral divisions for each field of research. The Industry-University-Government Cooperation Center was launched in October 2007. The aims of this center are: the creation of new agribusinesses, promoting the social contributions of agribusiness, promoting the utilization of results from local research discoveries, and developing and strengthening relationships between NARO and private industries.

The new NARO celebrated its second anniversary in April 2008. NARO’s work is directed towards research, development of new technologies, and human resource development for a dynamic agricultural sector. NARO also works towards developing a wealthy Japanese society in the 21st century, in terms of food and environmental issues, by utilizing new research organizations and supportive organizations. In this role, NARO benefits from being a non-public sector organization.

We appreciate your understanding and support for NARO.