Welcoming Address from the President of NIAES

The National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences (NIAES) has its roots in the Agriculture and Commerce Ministry's National Agricultural Experiment Station, which was created in 1893. In 1950, this was reorganized into the National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, and in 1983 it was again reorganized into the National Institute of Agro-Environmental Sciences. In 2001, it became an independent administrative institution, and on April 1 of this year (2006) it changed to a non-designated independent administrative institution.

Our institution's basic philosophy is to help solve the world's food and environmental problems through high-level research that aims to harmonize nature, society, and people. Our aim is to carry out basic technological research, and other activities pertaining to the environments of the organisms used in agricultural production to help upgrade technologies for the conservation and improvement of those environments.

Under our five-year research plan for achieving this aim, we have three objectives which emphasize basic studies and research meant to ensure the safety of agricultural production environments, and we endeavor to conduct high-level research with a clearly defined sense of mission.

1) Research for assessing and managing agro-environmental risks

2) Research for elucidating and managing the structure and function of agro-ecosystems to maintain and enhance the function of natural circulation

3) Basic study to support elucidation of the agro-ecosystems functionality

Leonardo da Vinci said, “Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Being willing is not enough; we must do.” This is also our sentiment at the National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences. Our researchers resolutely engage in their work with these words as their motto. Our institute has gained high stature among researchers in Japan and abroad as a center of research on agro-environmental technology. We intend to organize an Agro-Environment Research consortium to further collaboration with associated institutions in Japan and abroad, and with the following precept in our hearts, we intend to continue unremitting challenges and innovation in our capacity as an institute that leads the agro-environmental science research centers of the world.

Conserve the environment by listening to the wind,
Observing the soil, and thinking of our future.