Outline of Workshop

Mr. Yuichi MICHIKAWA, Deputy Director, Office for Nuclear Non-Proliferation Science and Technology, Research and Development Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Mr. Nobuaki ASAHI, Chairman of the Wakasa Wan Energy Research Center (WERC), and Mr. Tomoaki WADA, FNCA Coordinator of Japan delivered welcome remarks and opening speech respectively.

Overview Lectures
Mr. WADA gave a presentation for overview and progress of FNCA activities. He reviewed 10 FNCA projects and major successful results obtained. Then Prof. Hirokazu NAKAI, FNCA Mutation Breeding Project Leader of Japan introduced outcomes of the FNCA Mutation Breeding Project and outlined the purpose and challenge of the workshop.

Country Report on Application of Mutation Breeding of Rice for Sustainable Agriculture
Nine member countries presented progress and activity plan on the application of mutation breeding of rice for sustainable agriculture.

Follow-up on Sub-project on Sorghum & Soybean, and Banana
The follow-up progresses of the two sub-projects were reported and their future plans were discussed.

Cooperation with IAEA/RCA
Dr. LIU Luxiang informed meeting about progress of projects on mutation breeding and related techniques under IAEA support: project RAS 5056; RAS 5070; RAS 5077. Then future collaboration in terms of ways and the activities between FNCA and RCA project was discussed.

Strategic Plan of the Project on Mutation Breeding of Rice for Sustainable Agriculture
Prof. NAKAI presented a lead speech and after detailed discussion, it was summarized as follows;

1. Registration of favorable mutant varieties has been carried out.
2. Clear standard indexes for social impact should be settled in the aspect of ecological impact, farmer’s benefits and so on.
3. Ion beams are confirmed to have merits of producing novel mutant characters, with higher mutation frequency and stable heredity, whereas the demerit is the limited opportunity for irradiation.
4. Exchange of the breeding materials including induced mutants are encouraged and should be possible with mutual agreements.
5. China is prospective and Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, and The Philippines are considerable for their hosting the coming international symposium of the mutation breeding project in 2017.

Round Table Discussion for New Phase from 2018
First, Dr. Atsushi TANAKA presented a lead speech and discussed as follows;

1. Rice remains as a main target crop and additional unique crops will be included according to the necessity of participant countries.
2. Use gamma ray, electron beam and ion beam for mutation induction.
3. Achieve sustainable agriculture with low input and high yield.

Representatives from 10 participating countries talked about their ideas for new phase. All of them suggested to focus on low input as well as high yield for sustainable agriculture. Everyone agreed with using ion beam, gamma ray and electron beam according to the availability of facilities. In addition to rice, wheat, banana, adlai, soybean, cassava and animal feed crops such as forage rice, sorghum and maize were suggested as main crops.

Minutes and Closing Session
The minutes were discussed and agreed by all participants. Dr. Hideki NAMBA, FNCA advisor of Japan delivered closing remarks and thanked all participants for their efforts and cooperation.

Open seminar
In the afternoon on Dec. 14, the open seminar on "Application of Radiation Technology and Mutation Breeding for Sustainable Agriculture" was held in WERC, by attending with ca. 100 participants from related institutes, companies, university, farmers, local governments and press.

Technical Visit
On Dec. 15, participants visit irradiation facility of WERC, lettuce plant factory in Tsuruga and tomato farm in Takahama. They got explanation for their facilities, and observed the effort and for sustainable agriculture.

1) Outline of workshop

Opening Session
Mr. Yuichi MICHIKAWA, Deputy Director, Office for Nuclear Non-Proliferation Science and Technology, Research and Development Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Mr. Nobuaki ASAHI, Chairman of the Wakasa Wan Energy Research Center (WERC), and Mr. Tomoaki WADA, FNCA Coordinator of Japan delivered welcome remarks and opening speech respectively.

Overview Lectures
Mr. WADA gave a presentation for overview and progress of FNCA activities. He reviewed 10 FNCA projects and major successful results obtained. Then Prof. Hirokazu NAKAI, FNCA Mutation Breeding Project Leader of Japan introduced outcomes of the FNCA Mutation Breeding Project and outlined the purpose and challenge of the workshop.

Session 1 Country Report on Application of Mutation Breeding of Rice for Sustainable Agriculture
Nine member countries presented progress and activity plan on the application of mutation breeding of rice for sustainable agriculture. The summaries for each presentation are attached as Annex 3.

Session 2 Follow-up on Sub-project on Sorghum & Soybean, and Banana
The follow-up progresses of the two sub-projects were reported and their future plans were discussed. The summaries for each presentation are attached as Annex 3. For sorghum, three mutant lines were released as new varieties, with growing area about 300-500 ha each. Two soybean mutant lines were released as new varieties, but the growing area is still limited. Five banana mutant lines (SAGAN 1-5), which were induced from of a local favorite variety (Lakatan) susceptible to the devastating disease banana bunchy top virus (BBTV), have been tested to be intermediately resistant to the disease and successfully adopted to local production.
Future perspectives of these mutant varieties and lines, as well as future plans for demonstration and utilization were discussed. While these mutant varieties and lines have great potential to increase production and income of small size farmers. The Lakatan banana mutant lines have been applied for registration to the National Seed Industry Council. New market and end-user need to be generated for sorghum. One new sorghum and two new soybean mutant varieties with drought tolerance and early maturity will be released in the near future. While there is a follow-up project ongoing for the sorghum in Indonesia, the plan for BBTV resistant banana awaits confirmation from the agency concerned in the Philippines.

Session 3 Cooperation with IAEA/RCA
Dr. LIU Luxiang informed meeting about progress of projects on mutation breeding and related techniques under IAEA support: project RAS 5056; RAS 5070; RAS 5077.
Under the RAS5056 more than 4,528 advanced mutants with significantly improved stress tolerance, quality and yield potential in cereals, legumes, fruits & vegetables were developed in the member states. Among them 351 mutant lines were tested in the regional multi-location trial for release and 102 well characterized mutants were used for genetic studies. 28 mutant varieties have been officially released for production. Four regional training courses and ten national training courses were conducted for up to 340 researchers. Four regional training documents and 29 national training protocols were developed and distributed to breeders in the region; Website of Asian and Pacific Ocean Association of Plant Mutagenesis (AOAPM) has been established (www.plantmutagenesis.net); 96 peer reviewed articles published; 39 MS and 17 PhD graduated. The ongoing project RAS5070 is focusing on mutation breeding of bioenergy crops with 17 member states. The objective of this project is to increase crop productivity by using marginal lands. The new project RAS5077 will be focusing on green variety development by using mutation techniques and related biotechnologies.
The future collaboration in terms of ways and the activities between FNCA and RCA project was discussed.

Session 4 Strategic Plan of the Project on Mutation Breeding of Rice for Sustainable Agriculture
Prof. NAKAI presented a lead speech and highlighted five important points for discussion; 1) To summarize the developed mutant varieties and promote registration of the selected mutant lines as commercial varieties, 2) To calculate the economic and social impact of the selected mutant varieties or lines, 3) To survey scientific or technical merits found in the project as well as problems unsolved for the future project, 4) Exchange of the breeding materials among member country for further progress of mutation breeding in Asia, and 5) To hold international symposium of the project in 2017 to publicize the project results, contributing to solve food problems in the world.

After detailed discussion, it was summarized that 1) Registration of favorable mutant varieties has been carried out, 2) Clear standard indexes for social impact should be settled in the aspect of ecological impact, farmer’s benefits and so on., 3) Ion beams are confirmed to have merits of producing novel mutant characters, with higher mutation frequency and stable heredity, whereas the demerit is the limited opportunity for irradiation, 4) Exchange of the breeding materials including induced mutants are encouraged and should be possible with mutual agreements, and 5) China is prospective and Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, and The Philippines are considerable for their hosting the coming international symposium of the mutation breeding project in 2017.

Session 5 Round Table Discussion for New Phase from 2018
First, Dr. Atsushi TANAKA presented a lead speech and discussed as follows;

1. Rice remains as a main target crop and additional unique crops will be included according to the necessity of participant countries.
2. Use gamma ray, electron beam and ion beam for mutation induction.
3. Achieve sustainable agriculture with low input and high yield.

Representatives from 10 participating countries talked about their ideas for new phase. All of them suggested to focus on low input as well as high yield for sustainable agriculture. Everyone agreed with using ion beam, gamma ray and electron beam according to the availability of facilities. In addition to rice, Mongolia, Ms. Tsognamjil, suggested wheat as main crop. The Philippines, Ms. Veluz, mentioned banana and adlai, a future staple food. Vietnam, Dr. Le suggested soybean and cassava. Japan recommended animal feed crops, such as forage rice, sorghum and maize.

Minutes and Closing Session
The minutes were discussed and agreed by all participants. It will be reported at the 18th Coordinators Meeting to be held in March 2017 in Japan.
Dr. Hideki NAMBA, FNCA advisor of Japan delivered closing remarks and thanked all participants for their efforts and cooperation.

Open seminar
In the afternoon on Dec. 14, the open seminar on "Application of Radiation Technology and Mutation Breeding for Sustainable Agriculture" was held in WERC, by attending with ca. 100 participants from related institutes, companies, university, farmers, local governments and press.

2) Technical visit
On Dec. 15, participants visit irradiation facility of WERC, lettuce plant factory in Tsuruga and tomato farm in Takahama. They got explanation for their facilities, and observed the effort and for sustainable agriculture.

3) Attachments
Annex 1  Program
Annex 2  List of Participants
Annex 3  Session Summary

Monday, December 12th, 2016 (Day 1)

Tuesday, December 13th, 2016 (Day 2)

Wednesday, December 14th, 2016 (Day 3)

Thursday, December 15th 2016 (Day 4)

Bangladesh
Dr. ANK MAMUN (PL)
Chief Scientific Officer
Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC)

China
Prof. SHU Qingyao (PL)
Professor, Executive Deputy Director
Institute of Crop Sciences
Zhejiang University

Indonesia
Dr. Sobrizal (PL)
Senior Researcher
Division of Agriculture
Center for Isotopes and Radiation Application
National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN)

Japan
Dr. Yuichi MICHIKAWA
Deputy Director
Research and Development Bureau
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

Mr. Shoji KASUGA
Researcher
International Nuclear Cooperation Division
Research and Development Bureau
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

Mr. Tomoaki WADA
FNCA Coordinator of Japan,
Vice President of Japan Foundation of Public Communication on Science and Technology

Dr. Hideki NAMBA
FNCA Advisor of Japan,
Technical Advisor of Radiation Application Development Association

Prof. Hirokazu NAKAI (PL)
Professor Emeritus, Former Vice President
Shizuoka University

Dr. Hiroshi KATO
Director of Institute of Radiation Breeding
Institute of Crop Science
National Agriculture and Food Research Organization

Dr. Atsushi TANAKA
Director of Research Planning and Promotion Office
Quantum Beam Science Research Directorate
National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology

Ms. Atsuko TAKANO
International Affairs and Research Department
Nuclear Safety Research Association (NSRA)

Ms. Aki KOIKE
International Affairs and Research Department
Nuclear Safety Research Association (NSRA)

Ms. Ayako TANIDA
International Affairs and Research Department
Nuclear Safety Research Association (NSRA)

Malaysia
Dr. Sobri Bin HUSSEIN(PL)
Senior Research Officer
Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia)

Mongolia
Ms. Dolgor TSOGNAMJIL
Researcher (Mutation breeder)
Institute of Plant and Agricultural Sciences (IPAS)

The Philippines
Ms. Ana Maria S. VELUZ
Senior Science Research Specialist
Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI)

Thailand
Dr. Kanchana KLAKHAENG (PL)
Agricultural Research Officer
Senior Professional Level
Division of Rice Research and Development
Rice Department, Thailand

Ms. Udompan PROMNART
Researcher
Prachinburi Rice Research Center
Rice Department, Thailand

Mr. Somjai SALEETO
Agricultural Scientist
NongKhai Rice Research Center
Rice Department, Thailand

Vietnam
Prof. Dr. LE Huy Ham (PL)
Director General
Institute of Agricultural Genetics (AGI)

IAEA/RCA
Prof. LIU Luxiang
LCC of IAEA/RCA Project RAS5077
Director of National Center of Space Mutagenesis for Crop Improvement,
Deputy Director General of Institute of Crop Science
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS)