The Dutch agricultural counselor in Tokyo has called for Dutch-Japanese cooperation in reducing global methane emissions during a symposium organized by the Japanese agricultural institute NARO.
Agricultural counselor Denise Lutz was one of the guest speakers at the beginning of October at a digital symposium hosted by NARO, the Japanese counterpart of WUR. The symposium attracted the attention of more than 500 participants from Japanese industry, knowledge institutions, and government agencies.
During the symposium, among other things, a Japanese study on methane reduction was presented, which “can be a good starting point for joint exchange between our countries.”
The symposium provided an overview of all kinds of research in Japan, ranging from adapting feed patterns and developing methane-suppressing feed additives to breeding low-methane cattle, and ultimately developing personalized feeding systems based on smart pills.
According to the Dutch agricultural diplomat, the formation of public-private partnerships and international cooperation is essential for the development of new techniques and technologies. Bringing expertise together can accelerate important innovations, she said. She noted that, just like in the Netherlands, Japan also promotes research in this field.
She referred, among other things, to the feed additive developed by DSM that reduces methane emissions from ruminants. This feed additive was tested at the dairy campus of Wageningen University & Research by a consortium of stakeholders in the Dutch dairy sector. That DSM product is now marketed under the trademark Bovaer.
In addition, Lutz mentioned the recently released new DSM service Sustell, which enables farmers to measure their sustainability performance.
A week later, Lutz was present on behalf of the Netherlands at Agri Week in Tokyo. This leading trade fair for agricultural technology in Japan included all kinds of agricultural supplies, materials, technologies, and services. It also paid much attention to smart technologies for the next generation of agriculture, such as factory systems and AI/IT solutions.
There is great interest in Japan in precision/smart technology, as the country faces a severe labor shortage in the agricultural sector. The average age of farmers in Japan is nearly 68 years. Almost three-quarters are 65 years or older. Labor-saving technologies are seen as a solution to maintaining productivity.
The Dutch lighting specialist CCS showcased various types of Philips GreenPower LED lamps for plant cultivation and greenhouse horticulture. “Light” is one of the most important factors for plant growth. When the wavelength and/or intensity of the light changes, the plant’s shape and/or nutritional value changes.