Research on the new functions of agriculture and rural villages

Japanese agriculture and rural villages are not only a stable source of food; they also serve a variety of functions in the conservation of national land, water resources, and culture. In addition to these various functions' contributions from an economic perspective, there is also a focus in recent years on rural villages' environmental and social roles.
In this era of the "return to rural" that sees people coming and going between cities and rural villages, the institute conducts research that demonstrates the function and value of agriculture and rural villages that the Japanese people sympathize. With the understanding and support of all Japanese people, including urban residents, the institute also studies and supports policies that seek to maintain and promote these functions.
Additionally, there are also initiatives to create new value through the maximum utilization of local resources existing abundantly in rural villages. In particular, initiatives are increasing, which create a local economic cycle through utilizing biomass and other local resources sustainably.
In the interest of promoting such initiatives, the institute also conducts research to develop quantitative evaluation methods to contribute to the use of sustainable local resources both within and outside of Japan.