TOKYO DECLARATIONInternational Students Summit on Food, Agriculture and Environment
Date: November 19 – 20, 2001
Venue: Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan

In commemoration of 110th Anniversary of the Founding of Tokyo University of Agriculture, an International Students
Summit on Food, Agriculture and Environment in the New Century is held. Students from twelve countries and areas in
the world participated and discussed about present conditions and future issues on food, agriculture and environment.
With this opportunity, we air our opinions and views raised in this Summit documented in this Tokyo Declaration, which
we propose to the world.
1. Agriculture carries an important role of producing food for mankind to live. With the remarkable population increasesince the 1950s, food production has been greatly increased through the Green Revolution, but negative effects to theenvironment and health occurred due to the intensive use of chemical fertilizers and agricultural pesticides. For now
and the coming years, global food production increase and poverty alleviation are vital and agriculture plays animportant role. “Therefore, we aim at sustainable development in the New Century through the recognition of thevalue of agriculture as a life industry, and the respect of the unique ecosystem and wisdom of each region. Throughthe collaboration between traditional agriculture knowledge and wisdom, and modern science and technology, weendeavor to develop environment-friendly technologies and production systems. Eventually, we hope to develop andpromote a new form of organic agriculture which will meet social, economic and environmental requirements.”
2. Based on science and technology development, various new technologies are being developed and spread in theagricultural field. Among them, biotechnology，especially Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) is considered themainstream technology. Consumers also have strong concerns regarding GM crops and foods. “Therefore, werecognize the potentials of biotechnology including GMO based on judgment with right knowledge. At the same time,
we, as agricultural students, need to study and research more about the safety of biotechnology especially GMO inrelation to human health and environment, and we have a role of disseminating result-related information toconsumers.”
3. In each region, history gave birth to food culture and molded people. By definition, food should be consistently safe
from production to consumption. “Therefore, we create a new system wherein we can continuously be supplied andbe able to consume safe foods. Each actor in the system, based on the social infrastructure provided and improved by
the government, should consider the importance of safety issues such as pesticide residues at the production level,and post harvest and food additive usage problems at the processing and distribution levels. At the same time, we, asconsumers, must think better of healthy regional food culture and are urged to cooperate and understand the added
costs for commodities that are produced in a safe and environmentally friendly way.”
4. Nowadays, although trade liberalization is progressing under the WTO system, all countries and areas do not haveaccess to fair food distribution because economic infrastructure and social infrastructure gaps still exist. “Therefore,
we promote Regional Self-sufficiency mainly for staple foods by making use of the unique ecosystems and regionalindividuality from the local point of view. Then, in the global point of view, food self-sufficiency in the whole of Asiacan be achieved if food self-sufficiency is promoted in each area.”
5. In the years to come, we, the students have a huge role to play. More international cooperation is encouraged throughhuman resource exchange and sharing knowledge to overcome barriers such as academic disciplines and geographic
borders. “Therefore, we, as the core group consisting of students from thirteen (13) countries and areas, aim to create
an International Students Network. Also, we share a new and same value, wherein we need to create a new socialsystem where an environmentally benefiting and safe food production, distribution, processing and consumption
exist.”In realization of this Tokyo Declaration, we take an oath to make an International Students Summit Action Plan for eachcountry and area.
November 20.2001
Tokyo