The Agribusiness Creation Fair hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was held at Tokyo Big Sight from November 20 to 22, 2023. The fair serves as a "technology exchange exhibition" to showcase the latest research outcomes in the fields such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and food from institutions nationwide, fostering collaboration between research institutions and business communities. 

Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) made a notable presence within Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) booth. While SAA displayed its fieldwork, the booth also detailed JIRCAS’s TERRA Africa project, supported by The Nippon Foundation. This research project aligns with SAA's role in extending validated regenerative agricultural technologies from JIRCAS to smallholder farmers in Africa. 

Booth Highlights 
The fair saw about 140 organizations, including research institutions, educational bodies, and private companies, participating and attracting a large number of visitors. The JIRCAS-SAA booth consistently attracted visitors, sparking conversations around technological advancements and shared knowledge. 

Representatives including President Mr. Koyama and Vice-President Ms. Yamamoto from JIRCAS, alongside leading researchers, and President Dr. Kitanaka among several staff members from SAA, stood at the booth and talked with visitors. 

This exhibition underscored Japan's diverse agricultural technologies and their potential applications, offering a prime venue to convey the realities and hurdles faced by the agricultural sector in Africa to Japanese stakeholders. For parties intrigued by the TERRA Africa Project, the event proved particularly enlightening, granting a glimpse into SAA’s dedicated efforts in grassroots-level agricultural technology dissemination in the African continent. 

SAA-JIRCAS Collaboration 
SAA and JIRCAS entered into a comprehensive collaboration agreement, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), on agricultural research and extension in Africa in May 2023. Currently, JIRCAS is working on the "Technology Establishment for Regionally-adapted Regenerative Agriculture in Africa (TERRA Africa) Project," funded by The Nippon Foundation, aimed at developing regenerative agriculture tailored to the diverse climates and conditions in Africa. SAA is slated to play a role in disseminating agricultural technologies validated by JIRCAS to smallholder farmers across Africa. 

Related Article: The MOU with Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) on agricultural research and extension in Africa concluded (May 2023)
Official Website: Agribusiness Creation Fair 2023 (Japanese)