Outline of the workshop

Opening Session
Mr. OBATA Ryoji, Deputy Director, International Nuclear and Fusion Energy Affairs Division, Research and Development Bureau, MEXT, and Dr. YAMAMOTO Hiroyuki, Deputy Director General, Takasaki Institute for Advanced Quantum Science, delivered welcoming remarks. Then Dr. TAMADA Masao, FNCA Coordinator of Japan, and Mr. WADA Tomoaki, FNCA Advisor of Japan, expressed opening remarks.

Overview Lectures
Dr. TAMADA Masao overviewed FNCA activities in 2022-2023. Then Dr. HASE Yoshihiro, FNCA Mutation Breeding Project Leader of Japan, outlined activities of FNCA Mutation Breeding Project and explained major topics to be discussed in the workshop.

Country Report for Mutation Breeding of Major Crops for Low-input Sustainable Agriculture under Climate Change
Eight member countries presented progress and activity plan on the Mutation Breeding of Major Crops for Low-input Sustainable Agriculture under Climate Change.

Round Table Discussion for Mutation Breeding of Major Crops for Low-input Sustainable Agriculture under Climate Change
A lead speech was delivered by Dr. HASE Yoshihiro, setting off a roundtable discussion on the direction of research and the possibilities of further cooperation among the member countries.
After discussion, the participants confirmed the followings.

1. Mutation breeding of major crops is still important toward a sustainable agriculture under climate change.
2. Tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses is the major target of mutation breeding in the member countries.
3. It is hoped that the application of new technologies, such as, genome sequencing, genome editing, marker-assisted selection, and ion beams will take a classical mutation breeding a step forward. Six member countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Vietnam) requested QST Takasaki to provide beam time of TIARA for this project.
4. Member countries discussed the possibility of exchange mutant germplasm to accelerate the breeding program.
5. All participants agreed to propose new sub-project “Mutation breeding of major crops and application of new technologies toward a sustainable agriculture” for another 5 years. The details of a new proposal will be provided to Project Leaders of each member country.
6. The next workshop will be hosted by Mongolia.

Minutes and Closing Session
The minutes of the workshop were discussed and agreed by all participants.
Dr. TAMADA Masao delivered closing remarks and thanked all participants for their efforts and contribution.

Technical Visit
Technical Visit to Takasaki Institute for Advanced Quantum Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) was held on September 27th. Participants were delivered detailed explanation by the two experts of QST then visited Takasaki Ion Accelerator for Advanced Radiation Application (TIARA), Electron Beam Irradiation Facility, and Co-60 Gamma-ray Irradiation Facilities.

Hans-on Training
The last day of the workshop, on September 28th, participants moved to Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) then participated in Hands-on Training. Participants were delivered lecture about phenotyping technologies that was developed to estimate rice yields using smartphones, then tried the technology in the Field Museum (paddy field for research) of TUAT.

1) Outline

Opening Session
Mr. OBATA Ryoji, Deputy Director, International Nuclear and Fusion Energy Affairs Division, Research and Development Bureau, MEXT, and Dr. YAMAMOTO Hiroyuki, Deputy Director General, Takasaki Institute for Advanced Quantum Science, delivered welcoming remarks. Then Dr. TAMADA Masao, FNCA Coordinator of Japan, and Mr. WADA Tomoaki, FNCA Advisor of Japan, expressed opening remarks.

Overview Lectures
Dr. TAMADA Masao overviewed FNCA activities in 2022-2023. Then Dr. HASE Yoshihiro, FNCA Mutation Breeding Project Leader of Japan, outlined activities of FNCA Mutation Breeding Project and explained major topics to be discussed in the workshop.

Session 1 Country Report for Mutation Breeding of Major Crops for Low-input Sustainable Agriculture under Climate Change
Eight member countries presented progress and activity plan on the Mutation Breeding of Major Crops for Low-input Sustainable Agriculture under Climate Change. The summary for each presentation is attached as Annex 3.

Session 2 Roundtable Discussion for Mutation Breeding of Major Crops for Low-input Sustainable Agriculture under Climate Change
A lead speech was delivered by Dr. HASE Yoshihiro, setting off a roundtable discussion on the direction of research and the possibilities of further cooperation among the member countries.
After discussion, the participants confirmed the followings.

1. Mutation breeding of major crops is still important toward a sustainable agriculture under climate change.
2. Tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses is the major target of mutation breeding in the member countries.
3. It is hoped that the application of new technologies, such as, genome sequencing, genome editing, marker-assisted selection, and ion beams will take a classical mutation breeding a step forward. Six member countries (Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Vietnam) requested QST Takasaki to provide beam time of TIARA for this project.
4. Member countries discussed the possibility of exchange mutant germplasm to accelerate the breeding program.
5. All participants agreed to propose new sub-project “Mutation breeding of major crops and application of new technologies toward a sustainable agriculture” for another 5 years. The details of a new proposal will be provided to Project Leaders of each member country.
6. The next workshop will be hosted by Mongolia.

Session 3 Minutes and Closing Session
The minutes of the workshop were discussed and agreed by all participants.
Dr. TAMADA Masao delivered closing remarks and thanked all participants for their efforts and contribution.

2) Technical Visit
Technical Visit to Takasaki Institute for Advanced Quantum Science, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST) was held on September 27th. Participants were delivered detailed explanation by the two experts of QST then visited Takasaki Ion Accelerator for Advanced Radiation Application (TIARA), Electron Beam Irradiation Facility, and Co-60 Gamma-ray Irradiation Facilities.

3) Hands-on Training
The last day of the workshop, on September 28th, participants moved to Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT) then participated in Hands-on Training. Participants were delivered lecture about phenotyping technologies that was developed to estimate rice yields using smartphones, then tried the technology in the Field Museum (paddy field for research) of TUAT.

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

September 26^th (Tue), 2023; Day 1

September 27^th (Wed), 2023; Day 2

September 28^th (Thu), 2023; Day 3

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

Indonesia
Dr. Winda PUSPITASARI
Researcher
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)

Mr. Arwin
Researcher
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)

Ms. Yuliasti
Researcher
National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN)

Japan
Mr. OBATA Ryoji
Deputy Director
International Nuclear and Fusion Energy Affairs Division
Research and Development Bureau
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

Mr. KUMAGAE Koichi
Researcher
International Nuclear and Fusion Energy Affairs Division
Research and Development Bureau
Ministry of Education Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

Ms. NAKAHARA Risa
Administrative Researcher
International Nuclear and Fusion Energy Affairs Division
Research and Development Bureau
Ministry of Education Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

Dr. TAMADA Masao
FNCA Coordinator of Japan,
QST Associate
National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST)

Mr. WADA Tomoaki
FNCA Advisor of Japan

Dr. HASE Yoshihiro (PL)
Senior Principal Researcher
Department of Radiation-Applied Biology Research
Takasaki Advanced Radiation Research Institute
Quantum Beam Science Research Directorate
National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST)

Dr. KATSURA Keisuke
Associate Professor
Department of International Environmental and Agricultural Science
Graduate School of Agriculture
Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (TUAT)

Prof. NAKAI Hirokazu
Professor Emeritus
Former Vice President
Shizuoka University

Dr. WATANABE Shigeki
Principal Researcher
Department of Quantum-Applied Biosciences
Takasaki Institute of Advanced Quantum Science
National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST)

Dr. SUZUI Nobuo
Senior Principal Researcher
Department of Quantum-Applied Biosciences
Takasaki Institute of Advanced Quantum Science
National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST)

Mr. NOMURA Tomoyuki
International Affairs and Research Department
Nuclear Safety Research Association (NSRA)

Ms. INOKOSHI Chiaki
International Affairs and Research Department
Nuclear Safety Research Association (NSRA)

Malaysia
Dr. Faiz Bin AHMAD (PL)
Research Officer
Malaysian Nuclear Agency

Mongolia
Dr. Bayarsukh NOOV (PL)
Director General
Institute of Plant and Agricultural Science (IPAS)

The Philippines
Mr. Christopher C. CABUSORA (PL)
Senior Science Research Specialist
Plant Breeding and Biotechnology Division Department of Agriculture
Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice)

Thailand
Mr. Apichart Noenplab (PL)
Agricultural Research Officer, Senior Professional Level Acting for Rice breeding expert
Rice Department

Dr. Pakobkit Dungthisong
Agricultural Research Officer, Senior Professional Level
Rice Department

Mr. Ithipong Assaranurak
Agricultural Research Officer, Practitioner Level
Rice Department

Ms. Malinee Janwan
Agricultural Research Officer, Professional Level
Rice Department

Ms. Nila Rasidee
Agricultural Research Officer, Practitioner Level
Rice Department

Ms. Wanlaya Rakkaew
Agricultural Research Officer, Practitioner Level
Rice Department

Dr. Namphueng Moolphuerk
Agricultural Research Officer, Practitioner Level
Rice Department

Vietnam
Dr. LE Duc Thao (PL)
Deputy Director General
Agricultural Genetics Institute (AGI)