The Institute of Tropical Agriculture (ITA) at Kyushu University is an independent educational and research facility that operates separately from the university’s undergraduate and graduate schools. Established in 1975, the ITA was founded with the mission to “conduct fundamental research on agriculture and related environmental issues in tropical regions, and to contribute to the advancement of tropical agriculture and forestry through interaction and joint research with students and researchers dedicated to tropical agricultural studies.” In 1988, the Crop Production Section (now the Tropical Crops and Environment Section) and the Land and Water Conservation Section were established, followed by the addition of the International Development Section in 2013, forming the current structure.
The tropical and subtropical regions face pressing global environmental issues, including biodiversity loss, deforestation, negative impacts on crop production from global warming, and water scarcity due to altered rainfall patterns. Additionally, issues like food insecurity due to population growth and pollution in rural areas from industrialization have become increasingly severe in recent years. To preserve the lush ecosystems of tropical and subtropical regions while improving food production, it is essential to aim for “sustainable agricultural and forestry development and environmental conservation.”
To address these issues and work toward a better society, the ITA conducts international collaborative research with researchers from tropical and subtropical countries as well as with other universities within Japan. The results of our interdisciplinary research are disseminated to the public to foster societal impact. Given that many of these tropical and subtropical regions are in developing countries, the ITA also engages in international cooperation, working closely with agricultural and forestry agencies, local NGOs, community members, and researchers in these countries.
Moreover, ITA faculty members contribute to education in Kyushu University’s Graduate School of Bioresources and Bioenvironmental Sciences and the Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Global Society, supporting master’s and doctoral programs. We welcome graduate students from Japan and abroad, fostering a diverse academic community.