Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, NARO

Overview

Research Implementation

Construction of a highly profitable and stable production system for cold region agricultural and livestock products using smart technology

In the Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center (HARC), we implement labor-saving precision cultivation management of field crops such as potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, and soybeans using robot agricultural machines driven by sensing data and meteorological data. In addition, we realize large-scale dairy farming with high profitability and low environmental impact by means of labor-saving domestic feed production that utilizes image data of forage crops and smart feeding management system utilizing dairy cow data. This will be linked to the development and sale of dairy products that take advantage of the characteristics of milk produced by dairy manufacturers. In addition, we are engaged in the development of labor-saving mechanization technology for open-field vegetables such as pumpkin and sweet corn, which have not been sufficiently mechanized and will work to improve the profitability of combined management with rice, wheat and soybeans, and expand exports of vegetables.

Role played by HARC

Hokkaido is a large agricultural area with a quarter of the domestic cultivated area. Large-scale production activities that make use of the vast land are carried out, and potatoes, sugar beets, wheat, sweet corn, pumpkin, raw milk, etc. boast the largest market share in Japan. On the other hand, the labor shortage due to the declining agricultural population has become a serious problem. Under these circumstances, with the development and introduction of smart technology as the pillar, HARC will build a production technology system that achieves both labor-saving stable production and reduction of environmental load in response to large-scale production in harsh cold weather conditions. Furthermore, we will promote the dissemination of these technologies in cooperation with dissemination organizations, production organizations, and industry and will contribute to the improvement of farm income and the construction of new business models through multiple management, productivity improvement and further scale-up. Based on this, even when the agricultural population is declining, we will realize a stable supply of food to the whole country and regional revitalization centered on the agriculture and food industry.

History

  • 1901: The Hokkaido Farming Experiment Station was established in the second Farm of the Sapporo Agricultural College.
  • 1925: Construction of the new office building of the Hokkaido Agricultural Experimental Station was completed in Kotoni, Sapporo.
  • 1942: The Hokkaido Farming Experiment Station, the Breeding Station of the Hokkaido Government, and the Sheep Breeding Station of the Hokkaido Government were consolidated into the Hokkaido Agricultural Experimental Station.
  • 1950: The Hokkaido Agricultural Experimental Station was divided into the Hokkaido National Agricultural Experiment Station and the Hokkaido Prefectural Agricultural Experiment Station.
  • 1966: The Hokkaido National Agricultural Experiment Station was moved to its current location (Hitsujigaoka, Sapporo).
  • 2001: Reorganized as the National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region.
  • 2003: Reorganized as the National Agricultural Research Center for Hokkaido Region under the Bio-oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution.
  • 2006: Reorganized as the Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center (HARC) under the National Agriculture and Food Research Organization.
  • 2016: Reorganized as the Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center, NARO (HARC/NARO) in conjunction with the integration of 4 national research institutes.

Research Stations

Sapporo Research Station (Headquarters)

1 Hitsujigaoka, Toyohira, Sapporo, Hokkaido 062-8555, Japan
Tel: +81-11-851-9141

Memuro Research Station

9-4 Shinseiminami, Memuro, Kasai, Hokkaido 082-0081, Japan
Tel: +81-155-62-2721

Centers・Institutes