Due to rapid world population growth and economic development in developing countries, a large expansion of world food demand is expected.

Furthermore, the ability to meet world food demand becomes less certain with the increasing constraints on essential environmental resources for food production such as water and fertile soils.

Blessed with an environment hospitable to agriculture, however, Japanese agriculture has nurtured high-quality, safe, and reliable sources of food. One of the missions of Japanese agriculture is to help find solutions for rapid global population growth and constraints on resources.

The National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) was established on April 1, 2006, to address issues related to food, agriculture, and rural communities, including:

• Development of agricultural products and foods that enhance and promote health
• Securing food safety and the confidence of consumers
• Agricultural management innovation supported by robots and IT technology
• Creation of rural communities that are prosperous and desirable to live in
• Formation of a recycling-oriented society that utilizes biomass production and material recycling
• Creation of new bioindustries and industries related to agriculture and environmental preservation

NARO aims to contribute to an affluent Japanese society in the 21st century and to solutions of environmental

problems by carrying out technology research and development.

NARO also trains agricultural managers who will lead future generations.