On behalf of the SATREPS project, four members visited the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS)
invited by Dr. Donghe Xu (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 Donghe Xu. 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. Donghe Xu of the Agriculture Group provided a detailed explanation of the current growth status of soybeans.
Upon returning to the research center, Dr. Donghe Xu presented on the genetic improvement of soybeans utilizing soybean genetic resources.
Dr. Suzuki has proposed a research plan for Oasis Agriculture Group, in collaboration with Dr. Donghe Xu, aimed at acquiring fundamental knowledge that will contribute to enhancing crop tolerance to salinity stress.
Dr. Donghe Xu subsequently reported on the progress of related implementation trials, identified current challenges, proposed solutions, and outlined plans for the next phase of experimentation.