From December 2 to 6, 2024, the 24th Asian Association of Agricultural Colleges and Universities (AAACU) Biennial Conference was held, jointly hosted by our Graduate School and AAACU.

The Asian Association of Agricultural Colleges and Universities (AAACU) was established in 1972 as a cooperative organization of agricultural universities and research institutions across Asia, aiming to promote education and research related to agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. Currently, around 30 universities and research institutions from 10 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and the United States, participate in active exchanges such as student programs and symposiums. Nagoya University’s Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences plays a central role in leading AAACU and has previously hosted the biennial conference twice in Nagoya. This time, the third biennial conference (the 24th overall) was held at the Noyori Conference Hall, with approximately 50 international and 70 domestic participants.

The theme of this year’s conference was “Nagoya Protocol in Nagoya – wise and harmonized use of bioresources in the international community,” and discussions focused on best practices and challenges related to the use of bioresources in the global community. The five-day conference featured keynote speeches by Dr. Mutsuaki Suzuki from the National Institute of Genetics and Dr. Hiroshi Ehara, Director of the International Center for Research and Education in Agriculture (ICREA), as well as six invited lectures, sessions introducing activities from participating organizations, and poster presentations, among other programs. During the opening ceremony on December 3, Vice President Mizutani and Dean Nakazono gave speeches, and the welcome reception was followed by a toast led by President Sugiyama.

On December 5, a networking reception was held to deepen interactions among participants, and on the following day, December 6, a study tour was conducted to explore brewing facilities in Ena City, Gifu Prefecture, which received positive feedback from attendees. During the same period, a joint event was held in partial collaboration with the 'Agri-business Fair in Tokai,' organized by the NPO Tokai Region Bioscience Advanced Technology Research Association (Bio Tech TOKAI). Participants had the opportunity to visit exhibition booths showcasing agricultural, forestry, and food industries from the public, private, and academic sectors in the Tokai region.

Through these enriching programs, the conference provided new opportunities for international collaboration, particularly in East Asia, and further strengthened the presence of the Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences as a “Asian hub.”