Visit to JIRCAS by SATREPS Project Members

On behalf of the SATREPS project, four members visited the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) invited by Dr. Shu Tongha (JIRCAS) from the Agriculture Group:

Dr. Erina Iwasaki (Sophia University), representative of the project

Dr. Shuichiro Yoshida (University of Tokyo), Hydrology Group

Dr. Nobuhiro Suzuki (Sophia University), Agriculture Group

Dr. Naoko Fukami (Sophia University), Oasis Society Group

The delegation met with Dr. Seiji Yanagihara, Executive Director of JIRCAS, and Dr. Yasunari Fujita, Director of the Food Program Project arranged by Dr. Shu. Dr. Iwasaki and others introduced the SATREPS project to Dr. Yanagihara and Dr. Fujita, and the team received an overview of JIRCAS’s ongoing initiatives.

Following the meeting, the group visited the experimental field, where Dr. Shu Tongha of the Agriculture Group provided a detailed explanation of the current growth status of soybeans.

Upon returning to the research center, Dr. Shu presented on the genetic improvement of soybeans utilizing soybean genetic resources.　Associate Professor Suzuki has proposed a research plan for Oasis Agriculture Group, in collaboration with Dr. Shu, aimed at acquiring fundamental knowledge that will contribute to enhancing crop tolerance to salinity stress.

Dr. Shu subsequently reported on the progress of related implementation trials, identified current challenges, proposed solutions, and outlined plans for the next phase of experimentation.