Global Initiatives

International visitors 2016

Visit of ICIPE Director General

Dr. Segenet Kelemu, Director General of the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) visited NARO on December 16, 2016 and met with NARO Vice-President Dr. Tsukasa Nagamine and the Director-General of the Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (NIAS), Dr. Koh-ichi Kadowaki. Dr. Kelemu also had a discusion with Dr. Takashi Okuda, Senior Principal Researcher of Molecular Biometrics Research Unit on the dessication-tolerant sleeping chironomid, nemuriyusurika and its potential as feed. Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, ICIPE is an international scientific research institute developing and extending management tools and strategies for harmful and useful insects, with the aim of preserving the natural resource base through research and capacity building.



Delegation from WAITRO

The World Association of Industrial and Technological Research Organizations (WAITRO) promotes and encourages co-operation among industrial and technological research organizations (RTOs) worldwide. In line with this mission, Dr. Rohani Hashim (WAITRO Secretary General), Dr. Luxsamee Plangsangmas (WAITRO Regional Representative for Asia and the Pacific and Governor of Thailand Institute of Scientific and Technological Research), Dr. Liu Daoxue (Representative of WAITRO Regional Focal Point for Asia and the Pacific from China Institute of Small and Medium Enterprises), and Mr. Zulkefli Mohd Nani (WAITRO Programme Manager) visited NARO on December 8, 2016 and met with NARO President Dr. Tokio Imbe, Vice-President Mr. Kazumasa Shioya, and International Relations Office Head Dr Taku Nagai.



Japan-China Science and Technology Exchange Association Visited NARO



EnviroFlight LLC President and Wageningen UR Researcher Visited NILGS

Mr. Glen Courtright, Founder and CEO of the world's leading company in sustainable animal and plant nutrition EnviroFlight LLC and Dr. Teun Veldkamp, Senior Researcher in Animal Nutrition at Wageningen UR Livestock Research visited the NARO Institute of Livestock and Grassland Sciences (NILGS) and the Tsukuba Agriculture Research Hall on November 30, 2016. Mr. Courtright and Dr. Veldkamp were invited speakers at the International Symposium on "Perspectives on the Utilization of Insects for Feed and Food" held at the Hibiya Convention Hall on November 29, 2016.



Delegation from the Food and Fertilizer Technology Center

A delegation from the Food and Fertilizer Technology Center that included Dr. C. George Kuo, FFTC Consultant and Dr. Akio Takenaka, FFTC Deputy Director, visited NARO on November 25, 2016 and met with NARO President Dr. Tokio Imbe in conjunction with the FFTC-JIRCAS-NARO joint seminar on "Advanced Breeding Methods for Stress-tolerant Food Crops" at the JIRCAS Headquarters on November 24-25, 2016.



Discussion meeting with Novozymes Japan

A delegation from Novozymes that included Dr. Per Falhort, consultant and former Executive Vice President for Research and Development at Novozymes A/S and Dr. Shinobu Takagi, Senior Manager R&T Production Strain Development Japan and Strategic Planning, visited NARO to review current collaboration the Central Region Agricultural Research Center (CARC) and explore future research collaborations. A discussion meeting was held with Mr. Kazumasa Shioya, NARO Vice-President for Research Collaboration, Dr. Takayoshi Terauchi and Dr. Shinya Tsuda of CARC, Mr. Masahiro Yonemoto and Mr. Susumu Kakebe of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Research Council Secretariat, and Dr. Taku Nagai of the NARO International Relations Office. Dr. Yasunaga Iwasaki of the Institute of Vegetables and Floriculture Science (NIVFS) also gave an overview of the Tsukuba Plant Factory.



Thailand's BIOTEC Director

Dr. Somvong Tragoonrong, Executive Director of Thailand's National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC) and Ms. Sronkanok Tangjajijit, Manager of the International Cooperation Section visited NARO on Oct 11, 2016 to explore future research collaborations with NARO scientists. Dr. Tragoonrong and Ms. Tangjajijit paid a courtesy call to NARO President, Dr. Tokio Imbe and had a discussion meeting with Dr. Koh-ichi Kadowaki and Dr. Masahiro Yano, Director-Generals of the Institute of Agrobiological Sciences and Institute of Crop Science, respectively, and key scientists of both institutes.



Delegation from the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)

A delegation from CIAT that included Dr. Joe Tohme (Director of Agrobiodiversity Research Area), Dr. Manabu Ishitani (Senior Scientist of Agrobiodiversity Research Area), Dr. Sabine Douxchamps (Specialist in Forages and Integrated Crop - Livestock Systems at the CIAT Regional Office for Asia) and Dr. Idupulapati Rao (Plant Nutritionist and Physiologist) visited NARO on September 13, 2016 and had a brief meeting with President Imbe, Vice-President Shioya and the International Relations Office headed by Dr. Nagai. The group was also introduced to the NARO Genebank by the Research Center of Genetic Resources Director, Dr. Hiroshi Nemoto and had a discussion with Dr. Toki of the Research Center for Advanced Analysis on genome editing.



Delegation from India's Ministry of Agriculture

A delegation from India's Ministry of Agriculture that included Mr. Sanjay Lohiya (Joint Secretary for Oilseeds), Dr. Anupam Barik (Additional Commissioner for Oilseeds), Dr. Rajesh Rajora (Principal Secretary, Government of Madhya Pradesh), Mr. M. L. Meena (Director for Agriculture, Government of Madhya Pradesh), Dr. S. K. Rao (DRS, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya), Dr. A.N. Shrivastava (Principal Scientist, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya), Dr. S. B. Das (Principal Scientist, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwavidyalaya), and Dr. S. Tiwari (Director of Bio Tec Center, Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi VishwavidyalayaI) visited NARO on September 13, 2016 in conjunction with the JICA Project on "Maximization of Soybean Production in Madhya Pradesh". The group had a short discussion with President Imbe, Vice-President Shioya and the International Relations Office headed by Dr. Nagai and Dr. Kobayashi.



Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture Cooperatives

A delegation from Thailand's Ministry of Agriculture Cooperatives headed by the Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Derake Tonpayom visited NARO on September 12, 2016. The group was briefed on the research activities of the Division of Plant Disease Management of the Central Region Agricultural Research Center (CARC) and had a short discussion with NARO President, Dr. Tokio Imbe. The delegation also included Mr. Werawat Nilrattanakoon, Mr. Sukit Rarranasriwong, Mr. Tattawin Saruno and Mr. Phatchayaphon Meunchang.



Visitors from Department of Agriculture, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

A delegation from Department of Agriculture, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka visited NARO on August 19, 2016.



IRRI Delegation

A delegation from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) including Dr. Jacqueline Hughes (Deputy Director General for Research), Dr. Hei Leung (Head, Genetics and Biotechnology Division), Dr. Buyung Hadi (Entomologist and plant protection specialist), Dr. Nese Sreenivasulu (Head, Grain Quality and Nutrition Center) and Dr. George Kotch (Head, Plant Breeding Division) visited NARO on September 7, 2016 in conjunction with the IRRI-JIRCAS-NARO Joint Symposium on "Towards achieving sustainable rice production in Asia".



Director-General of Vietnam's National Agro-aqua-forestry Assurance Department

Dr. Nhu Tiep Nguyen, Director-General of Vietnam's National Agro-aqua-forestry Assurance Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development conducted a study tour at NARO on August 4, 2016. The study tour included lectures, visits to greenhouses, research facilities and experimental fields of the Institute of Vegetable and Floriculture Science (NIVFS), Institute of Fruit Tree and Tea Science (NIFTS), and Center for Seeds and Seedlings (NCCS). Dr. Nhu Tiep Nguyen was accompanied by Dr. Toshihiro Kudo and Ms. Rie Komatsu of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), and Ms. Kaoru Minase, JICA training coordinator.



The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) visited NARO

A delegation from The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) visited NARO on July 28,2016.


Ambassador of Kyrgyz Republic

The Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic in Japan, Ambassador Chingiz Aidarbekov visited the NARO Headquarter on July 15, 2016 as part of exploring the establishment of future collaborations between governments, academic and research institutions, and business sectors of the Kyrgyz Republic and Ibaraki Prefecture. The ambassador met with Vice-President Tsukasa Nagamine, Vice-President Tomoji Nagata, and Vice-President Kazuo Terashima. The delegation also included Mr. Abdisukhan Abdullah Uulu, assistant to the ambassador, and Mr. Maratbek Moldaliev, third secretary of the Kyrgyz Republic embassy.



Delegation from Thailand's National Innovation Agency (NIA)

A delegation from Thailand's National Innovation Agency (NIA) headed by it's Director, Dr. Pun-Arj Chairatana visited NARO on June 22, 2016 as part of a tour of Japanese government organisations to get useful information on the development of agriculture and food business in Japan and explore future collaborations. The group met with NARO President, Dr. Tokio Imbe at the NARO Headquarter for an overview of NARO activities and visited the Institute of Agricultural Machinery, Institute of Vegetable and Floriculture Science, National Institute of Animal Health, and Institute of Food Research.



Director of the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute visited NARO

The Director of the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI), Dr. Ouk Makara, and Deputy-director, Ms. Sakhan Sophany visited NARO Genetic Resources Centre, NARO Institute of Fruit Trees and Tea Science, and the Kyoto Prefectural Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries Technology Centre from April 15 to April 19, 2016 in conjunction with the Plant Genetics Resources in Asia (PGRAsia) project (http://sumire.gene.affrc.go.jp/pgrasia/). Dr. Ouk Makara and Ms. Sakhan Sophany visited the NARO Headquarter also and met with NARO President, Dr. Tokio Imbe on April 16, 2016.

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Palestinian Agriculture Minister visited NARO

The Palestinian Agriculture Minister Sofia Sultane and delegation from the Palestine Ministry of Agriculture visited NARO Headquarter on April 12, 2016. The delegation met with NARO President, Dr. Tokio Imbe and NARO executive board. The delegation were briefed on research activities of NARO particularly on current research on fruit tress such as grape. The delegation then visited the Tsukuba Gallery for an overall overview of agricultural research at NARO.



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