Many Asian countries face serious economic and social challenges in today’s rapidly changing world. Through programs such as the Transnational Doctoral Program, Nagoya University is tackling these issues head-on in partnership with partner Universities and Institutions throughout Asia.
 

In the sphere of agriculture, there are several areas that the Graduate School of Bioagricultural Science are addressing:

• (1) tackling the detrimental impact of excessive pesticide use on crops, and the toxic effects of residual pesticides on
  　　people’s health,
• (2) preventing lean harvests stemming from diseases, pests and climate change,
• (3) improving the quality of crops and animal products and raising income from them, and
• (4) establishing systems to provide guidance to farming families.

In general, these issues cannot be addressed by simply applying solutions that have proved successful in developed countries. What is needed instead are sustainable solutions that fully take into account regional requirements.

In the Transnational Doctoral Program offered by the Graduate School of Bioagricultural Sciences in conjunction with the Asian Satellite Campuses Institute, research into the topics outlined above is undertaken by students who already serve as officers in current local governments or affiliated organizations. Accordingly, we can expect their research findings to be integrated more rapidly in actual government policy.

Following successful completion of the program, we look for these graduates to make full use of their highly developed expertise and analytical abilities to play an instrumental role in agricultural promotion in their respective countries, while also instructing younger generations of researchers and/or officers.

Although this initiative is still fairly young as an institution, we are committed to pursuing academic research and educational activities through ASCI in an effort to further the development of NU and its relationship with Asian countries.