1. The 21st NIAES Symposium on Agriculture and the Global Cycling
of Carbon and Nitrogen.
The balance of carbon and nitrogen has been maintained in ecosystems while
they take on various shapes as they circulate in a cycle consisting of the atmosphere,
the biosphere, the soilsphere, the hydrosphere and the human environment. However,
vigorous human activities that started in the middle of the 20th century, such
as mass consumption of fossil energy and forest destruction, have rapidly increased
atmospheric greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide,
resulting in the emergence of global warming. Global warming affects the state
and function of interactions between environmental resources constituting agricultural
ecosystems, such as the atmosphere, soil, water and organisms, through global
environmental changes such as changes in precipitation, an increase in extreme
weather events, a shift in arable land and elevation of sea levels. It also
has significant bearings on the world's food production.
At the Earth Summit held in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, a series of international
treaties were formed for the prevention of global warming and other environmental
issues in recognition that the conservation of the global environment is essential
for the sustainable development of human beings. Subsequently, strong international
actions have been adopted at COP and IPCC for the prevention of global warming.
Given this background, the actual state, mechanisms, behavior and environmental
impact of carbon and nitrogen in agricultural ecosystems was clarified from
the viewpoint of global circulation at this symposium, "Agriculture and
Global Cycling of Carbon and Nitrogen," held on November, 2001 at NIAES.
Following an opening address and research remarks given by Dr. Minami, Director
General of NIAES, 6 speakers presented topics related to the global cycling
of carbon and nitrogen under current agricultural managements. Approximately
140 individuals including those from other research institutions, universities
and the private sector participated in the symposium. Issues and prospects regarding
the development of technologies to reduce the generation of greenhouse gases
were discussed.
Program of the Symposium:
1) Opening address and research remarks. K. Minami, Director General of NIAES.
2) What has been found in carbon cycling by atmospheric observation methods?
Dr. G. Inoue, Prof. of National Institute for Environmental Studies.
3) Relationship between atmospheric methane dynamics and agricultural activities.
Dr. K. Yagi, Senior Researcher of Greenhouse Gas Emission Team, NIAES.
4) Recent study on carbon cycle modeling in soilsphere and research subjects.
Dr. I. Taniyama, Chief of Food Production Prediction Team, NIAES.
5) Atmospheric nitrogen dynamics and food and agricultural problems. Dr. M.
Kimura, Prof. of Nagoya University.
6) Human activity and direct/indirect emission of nitrous oxide to atmosphere.
Dr. H. Tsuruta, Chief of Greenhouse Gas Emission Team, NIAES.
7) Time scales in nitrate transport in soil. Dr. H. Kato, Chief of Environmental
Chemistry Unit, NIAES.
8) General Discussion.
2. The 1st Annual Research Meeting on Organochemicals:
The present status, and future prospects on the investigation of effects, and fate
of endocrine disrupters.
Recently, it is doubted that many chemicals discharged into the environment
interfere with the endocrine systems of organisms, even in extremely small
quantities. These chemicals are called endocrine disrupters. Now dioxins,
including Co-PCBs, some pesticides and alkyl phenols are listed among endocrine
disrupters, and it is pointed out that these chemicals are distributed widely
in paddy fields due to impurities, and annexes in agro-materials and packing
materials, such as pesticides and vinyl film. To investigate the effects of
endocrine disrupters on organisms in agriculture, forestry and fisheries,
an integrated research project, "Environmental Hormones Project"
has been in progress from FY 1999.
The research meeting, "Effects and Fate of Endocrine Disrupters"
organized in collaboration with NIAES, Forestry and Forest Products Research
Institute (FFPRI) and National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment
of Inland Sea, Fisheries Research Agency (NRIFEIS) was held September 6, 2001.
Approximately 190 individuals from various research fields attended.
Chemicals discharged into the soil environment are transported to crops and
flow out to the rivers, and accumulate in organisms throughout the food chain.
For the solution of serious problems caused by endocrine disrupters and the
reduction of environmental risk to ensure the safety of agricultural and marine
products, a lively information exchange and discussion ensued, concerning
the effect on domestic animals and fishes.
Symposium schedule:
Opening address: K.Minami, Director General,
NIAES.
1) Fate of dioxins in agro-environment: main transport of the chemicals from
soil to crops. M. Kuwahara, NIAES.
2) Accumulation of persistent organic pollutants such as dioxins to organisms
in agro-ecosystems. F. Yamada and M. Yasuda, FFPRI.
3) Method of measurement of the endocrine disrupter effect. T. Horio, NIAES.
4) Effect of chemicals on the maturity and the reproduction of fishes and
shellfishes. K. Fujii, NRIFEIS
5) Effect of chemicals on the reproductive ability of domestic animals. C.Suzuki,
I.M-K Anas, K.Yosioka and S.Iwamura, National Institute of Animal Health.
6) Analysis and risk assessment of endocrine disrupters contaminated in foods
through packing materials. H. Nakazawa, Hoshi University.
7) Examination concerning the regulation of endocrine disrupters by international
organizations. H. Aoyama, The Institute of Environmental Toxicology.
8) General discussion: chaired by M. Ueji, NIAES.
