Three students from the Graduate School of Agriculture and Faculty of Agriculture participated in the 2024 G7 Agri-Young Hackathon as representatives of Japan

Ms. Ayano Naruse, a second-year master’s student in the Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Division of Applied Life Sciences; Mr. Takeru Hashimoto, a first-year master’s student in the Laboratory of Philosophy of Agricultural Science, Division of Natural Resource Economics; and Ms. Misaki Tsuchida, a third-year undergraduate student in the Faculty of Applied Life Sciences (student representatives), along with Assistant Professor Kosuke Shiraishi in the Laboratory of Microbial Biotechnology, Division of Applied Life Sciences (supervisor), were selected as the Japanese representatives for the G7 Agri-Young Hackathon*¹. The three students participated in the meeting held on September 25-27, 2024, in Sicily, Italy. Representatives from G7*² countries, including students studying agriculture, researchers, and young-generation farmers, were divided into three groups for discussion: 1. Science and innovation in agriculture for climate change adaptation and mitigation, 2. Young generations as agents of change in agriculture, and 3. Global food security challenges and their causes. At the G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Agriculture on September 27, the results of the discussions were presented as policy recommendations to the G7 ministers, African ministers, and heads of international organizations. During the G7 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting, they also attended the G7 Agriculture Forum for Africa, where they gained knowledge on important issues such as agricultural development in Africa, food security, and climate change adaptation.

*¹ Hackathon is a portmanteau of “hack” and “marathon,” meaning a long-duration event where teams discuss solving problems and generate good ideas.

*² The G7 (Group of Seven) is an important annual meeting where the world’s seven major countries (Japan, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the EU) gather to discuss important issues in the international community, including the world economy, regional situations, and various global challenges.

 

For more details on the G7 Meeting on Agriculture and the G7 Agri-Young Hackathon, please refer to the following.

Ministers’ Meeting on Agriculture

Ministers’ Meeting on Agriculture | G7 Italia

G7 Agriculture Ministers’ Communiqué Syracuse, September 27-28, 2024 (G7-Agriculture-Ministers-Communique-2024_Final.pdf)

G7 Agri-Young Hackathon “The young generations in agriculture” (G7 Agri-Young Hackathon “The young generations in agriculture” – Siracusa Institute)

 

Below is a comment from the participants.

(Ms. Ayano Naruse)

In the process of developing policy recommendations through collaboration with participants from diverse specialties, I discovered both challenges and a sense of fulfillment, deeply realizing the value of this experience. Moreover, observing the differences in interpretation of the concept of “science” among participants from various specialized fields became an opportunity to reaffirm the importance of science communication. This experience led to the formation of a clear career vision: to become a specialist who bridges the gap between science and policy.

 

(Mr. Takeru Hashimoto)

I’ve always dreamed of working at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and this experience has fueled that ambition even more. Over three intense days, our group delved deep into the pressing issue of global food insecurity. Hailing from Fukushima Prefecture, I experienced food shortages firsthand during a disaster when I was just nine years old. This fueled my dream of helping children in developing countries facing similar hardships. During the hackathon, I was engaged in discussions with a strong sense of duty, driven by my previous struggles. Together, we successfully pinpointed practical and effective solutions to foster the development of enduring and resilient food systems.

 

(Ms. Misaki Tsuchida)

It is natural for people from different countries, fields of expertise, and professions to hold diverse values and perspectives. I came to realize that the mission of those in the public sector is to engage in thorough discussions to reach conclusions that can be widely accepted, despite these differences. Through opportunities to interact not only with young generations but also with agricultural ministers and public officials from various countries, my own perspective has broadened significantly.

 

【Received encouragement from Mr. Sakamoto, the then-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan】

From left to right: Mr. Hashimoto, Ms. Naruse, Mr. Sakamoto, the then-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, and Ms. Tsuchida.

 

【Group photo of the G7 Ministers’ Meeting on Agriculture】
The center features ministers from G7 countries, ministers from African nations, and heads of international organizations, while representatives from the G7 Agri-Young Hackathon are positioned on both sides.

 

【Ms. Naruse discussing with her group members】
 She is in the back left.

 

【Mr. Hashimoto presenting and discussing with the Italian Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests and other panelists】
He is on the left.

 

【Ms. Tsuchida discussing with her group members】

She is on the back left.