The Graduate School of Biosphere Science organized the 9th International Symposium on Food and Environment on November 5, 2016. The symposium was co-hosted by the Research Center for Animal Science and the Research Center for Japanese Foods, Hiroshima University. The focus of the symposium this year was “Issues facing Sustainable Food Production in Southeast Asia and Africa”.

Previous to the international symposium, the formal announcement and exchange of MOU documents took place between the Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University and the Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
 

 Dr. Monchai Duangjinda, the Dean of Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University (left) and Dr. Yukinori Yoshimura, the Dean of the Graduate School of Biosphere Science (right)
 

This year, speakers were invited from four universities such as University of the Philippines Visayas (Philippines), Khon Kaen University (Thailand), Minia University (Egypt) and Hiroshima University.

The topics and speakers in Part 1 were “The Use of Chemicals in Aquaculture in Southeast Asia: Should We Be Concerned?” presented by Dr. Erlinda Cruz Lacierda (University of the Philippines Visayas) and “Research Strategies on Animal Production for Climate Change” presented by Dr. Monchai Duangjinda (Khon Kaen University).

Dr. Erlinda Cruz Lacierda

Chair: Dr. Koichiro Kawai

Dr. Monchai Duangjinda

Chair: Dr. Taketo Obitsu

In Part 2, Dr. Ahamad Mekawy (Minia University) presented “”, while Dr. Norihisa Kato (Hiroshima University) presented “Paradigm Shift in Japanese Fermented Foods and Prebiotics: Discovery of the Bifidogenic Function of Aspergillus Protease”.

Dr. Ahamad Mekawy

Chair: Dr. Akihiro Ueda

Dr. Norihisa Kato

Chair: Dr. Tadashi Shimamoto

During the break time, three studies supported by the 2015 Grant-in-Aid for Research from the Graduate School of Biosphere Science were reported. Poster presentation were also given by students based on their attendance at international conferences supported by the Graduate School of Biosphere Science.
 

Poster presentation

Sustainable food production and environment are of great importance especially in Southeast Asian and African countries where food resources including agricultural, animal and marine products are marketed among different countries. Stable production of safe and good-quality food is one of the greatest objectives for our research to support all the people in the world at a time when the human population is rapidly growing.

This symposium presented overviews of current and future systems of food production, their management, and natural environment surrounding the food resources especially during this time of rapid environmental change. Some of the current research topics pursued at the Graduate School of Biosphere Science also presented.

At the symposium, an active discussion on the current state of sustainable food production in the Philippines, Thailand, Egypt and Japan followed with sharing of ideas from each country. More than one hundred participants composed of students and university staffs enjoyed the discussion on this important issue.

General discussion (Chair: Dr. Lawrence M. Liao)

Question-and-answer period

Closing Remarks by Dr. Toshinori Nagaoka

Reception after the symposium