What’s JIRCAS / About JIRCAS JIRCAS Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences

■Introduction

JIRCAS was established in October 1993, through the reorganization of its predecessor, the Tropical Agriculture Research Center (TARC), in order to include overseas forestry and fisheries research in its mandate. It was again restructured in April, 2001 as an Incorporated Administrative Agency under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).

The IAA and the Audit System of JIRCAS

■Main Objective

JIRCAS is the sole national institute that undertakes comprehensive research on agriculture, forestry and fisheries technology in developing areas of tropical and subtropical regions, as well as domestic research on agriculture, forestry and fisheries, aimed at providing solutions to international food supply and environmental problems through technology development; and collects, analyzes and publishes information to grasp trends relevant to international agriculture, forestry and fisheries as well as farming systems, through international collaboration and cooperation.

■Main Research Areas

Genetic research geared towards maintaining crop productivity despite adverse environments of drought, salinity and freezing.
Research on biomass utilization technology which converts plant or agricultural residues into useful energy resource alternative to fossil oil.
Research on sustainable agricultural, forestry and fisheries technology suitable for restricted space on island environments threatened by population pressure in the tropics and the subtropics.
Research aimed at contributing to the development of stable farming villages in Asia, where 50% of the global population lives
Research on environment-friendly agricultural farming systems for food security in Africa, which lags behind in global development

■Schemes of Main Activities

International Collaborative Research
Dispatch and Invitation of Researchers
Research Planning and Evaluation
Cooperation with developing regions

■History

1970 Establishment of the Tropical Agriculture Research Center by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
1977 Transfer of TARC Main Office from northern part of Tokyo to Tsukuba City
1993 Reorganized as the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences under the umbrella of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
2001 Restructured as an Incorporated Administrative Agency (IAA)

Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences
■Headquarters
1-1,Ohwashi,Tsukuba,Ibaraki 305-8686,Japan
Telephone +81-29-838-6313　 Facsimile +81-29-838-6316
■Tropical Agriculture Research Front
1091-1,Maezato-Kawarabaru,Ishigaki,Okinawa 907-0002,Japan
Telephone +81-980-82-2306 　Facsimile +81-980-82-0614