３月１２日に以下のようなグリーンイノベーション関連のシンポジウムをインドネシアで開催いたします。
1st Symposium on Green Innovation for Water Environment, Food Production, and Biomass Energy in Indonesia
Date: 12 March 2012
Venue: Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD) in Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia
Tropical regions support a large number of plant and animal species, and conservation of these regions is a major issue that must be tackled globally not only by the nations in tropical regions. Agriculture is a critical factor that has a major impact on the environment in tropical regions, including Asia. Agriculture in tropical Asian nations faces four issues in relation to the environment.
The first issue is the expansion of cultivated land and the accompanying increase in water demand. At issue is land use and production planning, in addition to the increase in food demand accompanying population growth.
The second issue is environmental problems resulting from the spread of modern agricultural methods. Since the Green Revolution, Asian nations have greatly increased land productivity through the widespread use of modern agricultural methods such as the adoption of high-yielding varieties and chemical fertilizers, in response to population growth. However, modern agricultural methods that promote uniform cultivation are harmful to regional biodiversity and simplify ecosystems. This in turn erodes regional characteristics and weakens the ability of regions to adapt to external change, which carries the risk that a major environmental change could result in catastrophic damages.
The third issue is the increase in demand for biomass energy. While biomass energy is expected to be used more extensively to reduce the use of fossil fuels and lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, there are fears that the expansion of cultivated land for the production of biomass energy crops will reduce forest areas.
The fourth issue is the concern that global warming will lead to a decrease in agricultural productivity. The Fourth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) examines the impact on food production and predicts that in low altitude regions, particularly in tropical regions with dry and rainy seasons, a rise of just one to two degrees Celsius in regional temperatures will lower crop productivity and increase the risk of famine.
In order to mitigate these issues, it is desirable to develop and disseminate an environmentally advanced model in Asia that takes into consideration the balance of water, food and energy in response to climate change. At the same time, native varieties that are effective, together with native cultivation methods and traditional methods of using local resources that are effective in developing Asian nations, should be actively used. Among developed nations, Japan needs to pursue cooperation with other countries, especially since Japan is promoting green innovation to develop a sustainable society that balances the environment and the economy.
Therefore, we will hold the symposium at Universitas Padjadjaran (UNPAD) in Bandung, Jawa Barat, Indonesia on 12nd March 2012 to find and propose the adaptation strategies that enable sustainable and increased food production taking into account the environment and energy use in developing Asian nations.
We are interested in submissions that relate to the following issues, but are also open to other topics:
*Water environment problems
*Food production
*Biomass energy
* Environment and economy
* Balance of water, food and energy in response to climate change
* Advanced measurement and model for water, food and energy
The deadline for submission to this issue is 27 February 2012.
Please go to the website at
http://gmee.iis.u-tokyo.ac.jp/manuscript.html
Organizing Committee:
Kazuo Oki (The University of Tokyo)
Handarto (Universitas Padjadjaran)
Koshi Yoshida (Ibaraki University)
Masayasu Maki (Kyoto University)
Koki Homma (Kyoto University)
Chiharu Hongo (Chiba University)
Hiroaki Shirakawa (Nagoya University)
Issaku Azechi (Ibaraki University)
Keigo Noda (The University of Tokyo)