A ceremony to celebrate the relocation of the Experimental Farm of the Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, was held at the new main building of the Farm in Shiroyamadai, Kizugawa, with 100 off- and on-campus participants offering their congratulations.
The Experimental Farm was formerly located in Takatuski. It was relocated to the Kizu District of the Kansai Science City (also known as Keihanna Science City) in Kizugawa, Kyoto Prefecture, in April 2016. As one of core facilities of the Kansai Science City, the Experimental Farm, now also called "Kizu Farm", is to be equipped with advanced agricultural production facilities and installations for research and to develop agricultural technologies for the future. The site also provides opportunities in agricultural science and farming.
Prior to the ceremony, attendees toured the Farm, which covers an area of around 25 hectares, by bus. They saw some facilities, including the greenhouse and the experimental farming field of 11 hectares called the "Green Energy Farm", where a study on an environmentally friendly farming model utilizing natural energy, such as photovoltaic power generation, is taking place.
The relocation celebration ceremony was held at the main building of the Farm. Professor Hisashi Miyagawa, Dean of the Graduate School of Agriculture, delivered his address, saying "Utilizing these new facilities, we will strive to reduce environmental burdens stemming from agricultural production. We also plan to improve renewable energy technologies in order to make global contributions to the development of agricultural technology". Then, President Juichi Yamagiwa delivered his congratulatory remarks, saying "In line with Kyoto University's 'WINDOW Concept', we hope this farm will provide a platform where various talents and ideas meet, enjoy productive dialogues, and establish cooperative relationships which contribute to Kyoto University, to this region, and eventually, to the world". Afterwards, addresses were delivered by: Mr Hiroki Matsuo, Directr-General for the Higher Education Bureau of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; Mr Keiji Yamada, Governor of Kyoto Prefecture (on Governor's behalf, read by Mr Kenji Tsukuda, Director-General of Kyoto Prefecture's Department of Commerce, Labor, and Tourism in charge of Promotion of Academic Research City); and Ms Noriko Kawai, Mayor of Kizugawa.
At the celebration party following the ceremony, participants engaged in conversations about various topics, including the future of agriculture and of the roles Kizu Farm would play in its development.
(From left) Dean Miyagawa, Director-General Matsuo; Mayor Kawai, and President Yamagiwa
Ribbon-cutting ceremony; from left: Professor Tohru Tominaga, Director of the Experimental Farm of the Graduate School of Agriculture; Mayor Kawai; President Yamagiwa; Director-General Matsuo; Mr Akimasa Yamashita, Deputy Governor of Kyoto Prefecture; and Dean Miyagawa
Professor Tomonaga delivering a briefing in the touring bus
The farming field of Kizu Farm viewed from the third floor of the main building
The main building of the Farm
