Japan, Philippines push sustainable sugarcane partnership

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY — Japan and the Philippines reaffirmed their growing agricultural partnership through the Sustainable Development of Sugarcane Cultivation Symposium held Monday at the Sugarland Hotel.

The event brought together government officials, agricultural researchers, and industry stakeholders to strengthen cooperation on sugarcane innovation and sustainability.

Japanese delegates were led by a visiting official from the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), joined by Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona, and local farmers.

Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya expressed his sympathies to those affected by recent disasters in Negros Occidental and hoped for the swift recovery of impacted communities.

Kazuya highlighted the growing agricultural collaboration between the two nations, calling sugarcane development a vital part of the bilateral relationship.

He referenced former Japanese Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Shinjiro Koizumi’s October visit and meeting with Secretary Laurel as a milestone of strengthened engagement.

A focal point of the symposium was the deep-planting cultivation technology jointly developed by JIRCAS and the SRA, which is already being adopted in local sugarcane farms.

According to an SRA press statement issued Monday, this innovation enhances crop resilience and productivity, even amid extreme weather conditions.

Additional joint initiatives include research on soil runoff control, carbon sequestration, and soil fertility—efforts that aim to mitigate climate change and bolster food security.

Ambassador Kazuya also cited a recent agreement between the SRA and the University of Tokyo focused on sugarcane research and bioethanol production.

He shared insights from Japan’s sugarcane industry in Okinawa, which has thrived for over 400 years and is recognized for its kokutō (traditional brown sugar) and sustainable bagasse-based energy practices.

The symposium emphasized shared challenges and opportunities between the two nations, particularly their similar climates and reliance on small and medium-scale farmers.

“These parallels present a strong foundation for innovation and long-term cooperation in agricultural sustainability,” Kazuya noted.

He expressed optimism that the ongoing initiatives will help uplift farmers, improve food security, and build a resilient sugarcane sector.

Kazuya reaffirmed Japan’s continued commitment to supporting the Philippines’ journey toward a more sustainable and productive sugar industry.

Participants also visited the SRA–JIRCAS demonstration farm to observe the deep-planting technology in actual use.

In his remarks, Azcona thanked the Japanese delegation, JIRCAS, and the people of Japan.

“I thank you from the bottom of every farmer’s heart that benefited from this collaboration. It has been a great honor for SRA to work with the Japanese towards the improvement and sustainability of our industry,” he said.