Forum on the global warming and farming

A forum organized by Tokyo Nodai and French Embassy in Tokyo is held on Friday at the Setagaya Campus of Nodai. Three farmers along with scientists from the two countries expressed a concern about the global warming, and encouraged stakeholders in agriculture to work together to mitigate the disaster by using soil as a huge sink. One of the most interesting fact discussed in the forum was that the amount of carbon emission from the agricultural sector is far greater than that from the industrial sector when it comes in a time span of thousands years. Dr. Shirai of NARO, a MAFF affiliate research institute, presented it.

It was also interesting that two noted researchers discussed at the last part of the forum that Trump's inauguration would send a bad message to the world, but scientists should work hard to mitigate the global warming which is based on sound evidences.

A cocktail party was held at the French Embassy in Azabu. No good wine was served and food was so-so.

It was almost one year ago when an official at the Embassy asked me if any university in Japan interested in working with it to facilitate the 4/1000 initiative. Then I sent a mail to four university officials if they are interested in. Nodai was the first responder to the inquiry mail. Dr. Takagi, president of the university called me next day saying "We are ready."

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What is the 4 per 1000 initiative?

The 4‰ Initiative, launched by France, sets out to bring together all willing contributors in the public and private sectors (national governments, local and regional government, companies, trade organisations, NGOs, research facilities, and others) under the framework of the Lima-Paris Action Agenda (LPAA).

The aim of the Initiative is to demonstrate that agriculture, and agricultural soils in particular, can play a crucial role where food security and climate change are concerned.

(Photo by YAMADA, Masaru)

http://4p1000.org/understand