KOBE UNIVERSITY 2023.11-2025.10

For Sustainable Agriculture and Human Health− From Farm to Table –Message from the Dean

For Students who want to study Agricultural Science
Have you ever felt that eggs and other foodstuffs are expensive these days? Have you ever felt that thesummer has been unusually hot in the past few years? Do you pay attention to what you eat every day foryour health? Currently, the cost of fertilizers for crops and feed for livestock is skyrocketing due to theworsening global situation. In addition, livestock and crops are facing to the risk of disease like avian
influenza. Abnormal weather conditions such as extreme heat and long rains have been reported inmany parts of the world due to global warming. In Japan, the aging population is drawing attention to
health management through diet.
Under the slogan of "From Farm to Table," the Faculty of Agriculture offers you the opportunity to learn
about the various issues mentioned above and to solve them. For example, we have researches to
Yasuhito SHIRAI
Dean, Graduate Schoolof Agricultural Sciencedevelop environmentally-friendly and disaster-resistant agricultural materials and systems for delivering
water to farmland. You can study the current situation of food supply and demand, which is closely
related to the global situation, and we conduct researches that contribute to the development of agriculture, farming villages, and the food industry. We also study the mechanisms and ecology of animals andplants to produce more delicious and environmentally-friendly crops, and we conduct studies andresearch to prevent livestock diseases. We try to make the functional foods to contribute to humanhealth. In addition, you can study not only the applied science described above, but also the fundamental
science such as chemistry, biology, mathematics and physics. By learning these fundamental and appliedscience, you could be able to deal with various problems that may arise in the future.
Furthermore, the SDGs have been put attention about for the past few years. Importantly, an international perspective will become indispensable in your future. There are differences in farming patterns andfood culture, and awareness of food safety and security varies from country to country. Without anawareness of these differences and an attitude of working together with many people around the world
to solve problems, there will be no sustainable development on a global scale. Thus, to give you international perspective, the Faculty of Agriculture and the Graduate School of Agricultural Science offer
various programs in cooperation with the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, and the University of
Nebraska, Lincoln, USA.
In conclusion, the Faculty of Agriculture and the Graduate School of Agricultural Science offer a variety ofeducation and research programs that will be useful for your future. Our mission is to nurture graduates
who will lead the future of Japan and researchers who can play an active role in the world through theseeducation and research programs. We hope that you will acquire a high level of specialized knowledge,
an international perspective, and a rich sense of humanity.

1History

Contents

April 1949

Hyogo Prefectural School of Agriculture wasinaugurated in Sasayama.

April 1952

Hyogo Prefectural School of Agriculture wasrenamed Hyogo University of Agriculture.

April 1966

Hyogo University of Agriculture was transferred
to Kobe University and became the Faculty ofAgriculture.

June 1967

The Experimental Farm was established.

October 1967 The Faculty of Agriculture moved from Sasayama
to Rokkodai Campus.
March 1969

Hyogo University of Agriculture was disestablished.

April 1972

The Graduate School of Agriculture (Master's
degree program) was established.

April 1981

The Graduate School of Science and Technology (Doctoral degree program) was established.

April 1993

The Faculty of Agriculture was reorganized
and 5 Departments and 12 divisions were
established.

April 1994

Master courses of the Graduate School of
Agriculture, the Graduate School of Engineeringand the Graduate School of Science werereorganized, and the Graduate School of Scienceand Technology (Master's degree program) wasestablished.

April 2003

Experimental Farm was upgraded to Food
Resources, Education and Research Center.

April 2004

Kobe University became a national university
corporation.

April 2007

Graduate School of Agricultural Science wasestablished by reorganizing the Graduate
School of Science and Technology.

April 2008

The Faculty of Agriculture was reorganizedand 3 Departments and 6 Divisions were
established.

Message from the Dean ............................................................... 1
History .................................................................................................... 2
Graduate School of Agricultural Science ........................... 3
Number of Faculty Members and Staff ................................ 5
Number of Students and Academic Agreements .......... 6
International Exchange Program ............................................ 7
Departments ...................................................................................... 8
Agricultural Engineering and Socio-Economics
Agricultural Engineering.......................................................... 9
Food and Environmental Economics ..............................10
Bioresource Science
Animal Science ...........................................................................11
Plant Science ...............................................................................13
Agrobioscience
Applied Chemistry in Bioscience .....................................15
Plant Health, Environment and Biotechnology .......17
Facility ..................................................................................................19
Access ...................................................................................................212

Graduate School of Agricultural Science
Training Researchers to Develop Creative Scientific Research and Technologies
Kobe University Graduate School of Agricultural Science consists of the Department of Agricultural Engineering andSocio-Economics, the Department of Bioresource Science, and the Department of Agrobioscience. Focusing on topics
from the farm to the table, we provide a world-class education on subjects related to food, environment, and healthscience. The faculty members are dedicated to promoting and expanding their expertise. Our education fosters aninterdisciplinary and integrative approach, and our curriculum policy allows students to earn credits from other departments of the school. We train students to adopt a multifaceted research approach, encouraging them to exchange
information and examine different viewpoints. We aim to cultivate researchers and educators who will develop creative
scientific research and technologies, advanced professionals who will serve in leadership positions, and other experts
who contribute to local and global communities.

Admission Policy
Master's Program
The Master's Program of the Graduate School of Agricultural Science aims to train individuals to gain a broad range of knowledge intheir respective fields, as well as problem-solving skills and the ability to think creatively with an interdisciplinary perspective. For thisreason, the Graduate School accepts people with solid fundamental academic ability in the field of agricultural science, people
excelling in rational thinking, persons with a strong desire to study agricultural science, people with a passion for science and strong
intellectual curiosity, as well as people who wish to utilize their knowledge in the sciences at public institutes and in the industrial
sector.

Doctoral Program
The Doctoral Program of the Graduate School of Agricultural Science aims to train individuals to gain a high level of expertise andbroad perspectives in their respective fields, as well as outstanding creativity and innovative thinking. For this reason, the School
accepts persons with fundamental academic aptitude in agricultural science or related fields at the master's program level, persons
with critical thinking and presentation skills, persons with intellectual curiosity and passion for agricultural science research, persons
who wish to become researchers or educators and those who are already working in public institutes or in the industrial sector andwish to advance their careers as professionals with advanced specialized skills.

3Degree Conferred
Program

DegreeCompletion Requirements

Master’s Program (2 years)

Master’s degree in Agriculture

Obtain 30 credits or more in
their major, and to pass themaster’s thesis screening andfinal examination.

Doctoral Program (3 years)

Doctor of Philosophy inAgricultural Science
Doctor of Philosophy

Obtain 10 credits or more in
their major, and to pass thedoctoral dissertation screening
and final examination.

Prospective Graduate Students (Admission Examination) for
the Kobe Global Graduate Program for Agricultural Science
According to the educational principles presented in the admission policy statement above, the Graduate School of Agricultural
Science explores agricultural topics, particularly those related to food, environment, and health science, and provides education andtraining to promote a sustainable symbiotic society and its underlying foundation of advanced technology and knowledge base. In
order to enter degree programs, prospective students will participate in the evaluation process. They are selected by means of acomprehensive evaluation of application documents and interview through e-mails or skype. For detailed information, please checkthe following website; http://www.ans.kobe-u.ac.jp/english/
We require prospective students to find the academic supervisor prior to applying for the Graduate school.
※Global Graduate Program will be contlucted in English.

We provide academic paths appropriate
for students with different levels of skills and abilities:
Graduate School of
Agricultural Science

Graduate School of
Agricultural Science[Master’s Program][Doctoral Program]

Agricultural Engineeringand Socio-Economics

Agricultural Engineeringand Socio-Economics

Agricultural Engineeringand Socio-Economics

Bioresource Science

Bioresource Science

Bioresource Science

Agrobioscience

Agrobioscience

Agrobioscience

Faculty of Agriculture

Students may either move on to doctoral studies or seek nonacademic career paths.

4

Number of Faculty Members and Staff(As of July 1, 2023)

5

Number of Students
Number of Graduate and Undergraduate Students (As of May 1, 2023)
International
student
1,291
Graduatestudent
3,169

Under
graduatestudent
11,411

International
student
35

Undergraduatestudent
683

Graduatestudent
284

Total
15,871

Total
1,001

Number ofInternational Students
by Countries of Origin(As of May 1, 2023)

Others8

Madagascar
2

China
23

Total
35

Bangladesh
2

Kobe University

Faculty of Agriculture
Graduate School of Agricultural Science

Academic Agreements
Inter-University Agreements (10 institutions)(As of July 1, 2023)

Inter-Faculty/Graduate School Agreements (22 institutions)(As of July 1, 2023)

6

International Exchange Program

SAKURA Science Exchange Program
Under the SAKURA Science Exchange Program, funded by the Japan Science and Technology Agency, the Graduate
School of Agricultural Sciences provides promising Asian students with learning and research opportunities. Participants
will experience a short-term stay in Japan, where they will interact with Japanese students and experts in science andtechnology in order to gain new scientific knowledge.

Past Activities
Country/
RegionActivity Report

July 23-August 1,
2017

ThailandTwo graduate students, six undergraduates , and one faculty member from Chiang Mai University,
Thailand, were invited. The invitees attended lectures and visited facilities related tothe program’s
objective: “Characterization of thermotolerant soil microorganisms isolated in Thailand field and its
enzymes.”

July 30-August 6,
2017

Thailand,Sri Lanka,
Indonesia

Four graduate students, seventeen undergraduates, and three faculty members from Thammasat
University, Thailand, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia, wereinvited. The invitees attended lectures and visited facilities related to the program’s objective:“Advanced technology of biosystems engineering for promoting sustainable agriculture.”

July 23-August 1,
2018

ThailandTwo graduate students, six undergraduates , and one facultymember from Chiang Mai University,
Thailand, were invited.The invitees attended lectures and visited facilities related tothe program’s
objective: “Classification and characterization of thermotolerant soil microorganisms isolated in
Thailand.”November 25-December 2,
2018

Thailand,Sri Lanka,
Indonesia

Seven graduate students, fourteen undergraduates, and three faculty members from Thammasat
University, Thailand, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, Bogor Agricultural University, Indonesia, wereinvited. The invitees attended lectures and visited facilities related to the program’s objective:“Advanced technology of biosystems engineering for promoting sustainable agriculture.”

November
17-24,
2019

Sri Lanka
Indonesia

Three graduate students, five undergraduates, and four faculty members from University of Ruhuna,
Sri Lanka, Bogor Agricultural University and Andalas University, Indonesia, were invited. The invitees
attended lectures and visited facilities related to the program’s objective: “Advanced technology ofbiosystems engineering for promoting sustainable agriculture.”

Sri Lanka
Indonesia

One hundred and sixteen people including professors, graduate and under graduate students from
University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, Bogor Agricultural University and Andalas University, Indonesia, andKobe University participated in the online exchange meeting using ZOOM. The participants
attended lectures and discussions related to the program’s objective: “Advanced technology ofagricultural environmental engineering for achieving SDGs at the rim of the Indian Ocean.”November 18,
2021

Sri Lanka
Indonesia

One hundred and five people including professors, graduate and under graduate students from
University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, Bogor Agricultural University and Andalas University, Indonesia, andKobe University participated in the online exchange meeting using ZOOM. The participants
attended lectures and discussions related to the program: “Advanced technology of agriculturalenvironmental engineering for sustainable food production system in Monsoon Asia” that wasplanned to apply in 2022.

November 27-December 4,
2022

Sri Lanka
Indonesia

Nine graduate students, fifteen undergraduates, and three faculty members from University of
Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, Bogor Agricultural University and Andalas University, Indonesia, were invited. The
invitees attended lectures and visited facilities related to the program’s objective: “Advanced
technology of agricultural environmental engineering for sustainable food production system in
Monsoon Asia.”Timein JapanNovember 19,
2020

7

Departments

Agricultural Engineering and Socio-Economics
With the advent of a population explosion and increasing global environmental problems there is a growing concern for the world food supply inthe near future. In particular, the considerably low food self-sufficiency
ratio of our country requires the establishment of a stable food supply
system. In the Department of Agricultural Engineering and Socio-Economics educational research is carried out that aims at the systemization of allprocesses from agricultural infrastructure to distribution and consumptionof foods so that producers and consumers alike may coexist in an environmentally sustainable society. The department has two divisions: theDivision of Agricultural Engineering and the Division of Food and Environmental Economics which foster humanresources and provide them with a broad knowledge with regards to food and the environment and skills so that they
can play an active role in the public or private sector.

Bioresource Science
Animals and plants are essential as reproducible resources of food andvarious materials for our life. The Department of Bioresource Science
provides education and research on animals, plants and microorganisms at
the gene, molecule, cell, individual, group, species and ecosystem levels.
The research and education also include the management and efficientutilization of bioresources for sustainable food production and safe foodsupply. Our goal is to develop outstanding bio-specialist with comprehensive knowledge and thinking power who can play an active role in avariety of fields ranging from food production to new biotechnology. To
achieve the goal, this department has two divisions, the Division of Animal Science and the Division of Plant Science.

Agrobioscience
The Department of Agrobioscience nurtures human resources that havethe ability to understand and analyze a variety of functions and phenomena of organisms related to food and agriculture from the molecular to theecosystem level from various perspecives, and those who can support
society leveraging applied biology in the 21st centur y by utilizing,developing, and controlling organisms and their functions such as indeveloping bioindustries related to agricultural crops, food, chemistry,
medicine, etc. and cultivates excellent scientific powers for environmental
conservation. The department has many fields that encompass food,chemistry, biology, etc. and culivates excellent scientific powers of thinking, experimentation, and expression by providing students with a systematic lecture curriculum which takes actual career paths into consideration. To achieve thesegoals, the department has two divisions: the Division of Applied Chemistry in Bioscience and the Division of Applied
Biology.

8

Agricultural Engineering and Socio-Economics

AgriculturalEngineering

This Division promotes agricultural engineering research and education
programs relating to use and control of water and land resources;
maintenance of agricultural facilities; and development of machineryand equipment for crop cultivation, harvesting, and processing.

Water resources and environmental engineering
The research and educational topics include: the basin-widehydrological cycle, evaluation of the aquatic environment fromboth water quantity and quality aspect, model development forwater and material cycle, and its applications for water resource
management.
V-notch weir for obser vation ofriver flow discharge

Auto sampler and turbidity meter
for water quality observation

Students conducting flood simulation experiments using dry sandField experiment for underground
pipeline installation (cour tesy of
M i n i s t r y o f Ag r i c u l t u re, Fo re s t r y
and Fisheries)

Compressive test of concrete

Groundwater contaminant behavior
in laboratory experiments

Conducting a dragonfly survey on a
farm pond

Field sur vey of mountainous agricultural fields in Awaji Island

Electrochemical degradation of
antibiotics in food biomass

M e t h a n o g e n i c b a c te r i a i n b i o g a s
production

Geotechnical Engineering for Agriculture
The mission of this laborator y is to create safe and clean ruraland agricultural environments. I ts research and educational
topics include: efficient design and construction methodologies
for agricultural irrigation and drainage facilities (e.g., farming
reser voirs, pipelines, and open channels) and mitigation offlooding and drought disasters.

Geo-Environmental Engineering for
Agricultural Facilities
This laborator y aims to develop optimal regional agricultural
infrastructure models that incorporate water and land resources
and ir r igation facilities. I ts research and educational topics
relate to groundwater dynamics; water–soil interactions;
groundwater and soil pollution; and investigation, design, andmaintenance of irrigation installations.

Rural Planning
Agriculture and rural communities in Japan and in many parts of
the world are undergoing rapid changes. This laboratory seeks
to direct this change towards sustainable development withincreased options. The state of the art remote sensing and GIS
are key tools to monitor and visualize changes and to share
information. Various types of models developed together withscenarios provide future projections. Conservation of
biodiversity is also the key topic in this lab.

Agri-Food Process Engineering
This laboratory offers research and education programs related
to physicochemical and functional characterization of agricultural resources and food products; theories and technologies forfood processing and bioprocessing; and management of thefood supply chain, from production to consumption to disposal.

9Mechanical Engineering of Bioproduction
The development of smart agriculture technologies, primarily
focusing on crops and fruits production, would be undertaken.
Specifically, the research and education will emphasize the analysis of sensing data collec ted by agricultural machiner y androbots, as well as the practical application of agricultural DX thatcan be effectively employed in farmland settings.

Patrol of a pear orchard by a quadruped robot

Soil map using smart rice transplanter

Information Engineering of Bioproduction
This laborator y focuses on plant production system that links
production in closed-system to post-har vest processing techniques. Its research and educational programs relate to non-destructive spectroscopic measurements and theoretical understanding of crop response during growth and storage, as well as
development of an integrated production system to give
research findings back to points of production.

Distribution of nitrateconcentration in spinach leaves

M R I i m a g i n g o f wate r Cultivation of S affron
d i s t r i b u t i o n i n a in a growth chamber
cucumberField machinery and plant production
With a primary focus on plant production systems in the fields,t h i s l a b o rato r y a i m s at d e ve l o p i n g a n d te s t i n g a gr i c u l t u ra l
implements based on cultivation techniques and on biologicaland ecological traits of the field crops. Research outcomes are
not only to be extended to domestic farms in Japan, but also areapplicable to international food production systems under various environment for the crops.

Food andEnvironmental
Economics

Development of one-path disc riger for hand
tractors and the experiment in cowpea andpearl millet fields to be grown under excessive
precipitation (University of Namibia-Ogongo)

Modification of a commercial rice transplanter
for no-till fields aiming at controlling aquatic
weeds under no-herbicide condition (FoodResources Education and Research Center)

We conduct social scientific research and teaching on theories and policies forsolving food, farming, and environmental issues; policies for revitalizing ruralcommunities and developing farm management; and statistical procedures
addressing the production, distribution, and consumption of food with an emphasis on the food and agriculture-related industries.

Food Economics and Policy Studies
We face a lot of dilemmas concerning food, such as food poverty, food waste and loss, and fluctuations in international pricesof agricultural commodities mainly caused by climate change,
globalism, and geopolitical risks. We conduct researches basedon economic analyses with quantitative tools to clarify how
food, agricultural and environmental policies should be.

Grocery store under globalism

BazaarField research in rural areas

Farmer's Market

Threshing work in India

Rice terraces in Indonesia

Farm and Rural Management
Our program specializes in researching farm and regional
resource management, food system, rural development, and thewellbeing of rural communities based on the theories of business administration and sociology. We place great importanceon research which is responsive to social need and embedded incommunity action.

International Agriculture and Food Studies
Our research and teachings are based on empirical and theoretical studies on eating behavior of children, adolescents, and theelderly; consumption behavior for domestic foods or agricultural
brands; household food insecur it y and malnutr ition for thepoor; rural development and pover ty eradication; qualitative
study for food systems; and survey and statistical methodologies
with respec t to rural, agricultural, and dietar y issues in bothdeveloped and developing countries.

10Bioresource Science

Animal Science

The Division of Animal Science is dedicated to promoting the safe, effective,
and sustainable management of animal resources. To fulfill its mission, The
Division conducts research and education on animal biology based on
genetic, biochemical, morphological, and immunological approaches, with
an emphasis on understanding various biological functions and their regulation at the molecular, cellular, individual, and population levels.

Animal Breeding and Genetics
Th e re s e a rc h a n d e d u c at i o n a l fo c u s o f t h i s l a b o rato r y i s o ngenetic breeding. By leveraging cutting-edge genomics methodologies, this laborator y searches for and identifies livestock
genes useful for breed improvement. This laboratory also conducts genetic research on the origin and evolution of domesticated animals.

Identification of responsible genefor selective breeding in beef cattle

Genetic analysis to elucidate population
structure and migration routes of livestockI m m u n o fl u o r e s c e n c e s t a i n i n g o fbovine sperm acrosomal proteins

Immunofluorescence staining imageof pig oocyte spindle

Micromanipulation of a porcine
oocyteI m m u n o fl u o r e s c e n c e i m a g e o fmurine spermatocytes

Reproductive Biology
The research and educational interests of this laboratory are focused on
the improvement of reproductive techniques for livestock (e.g., cattle
and pigs) to achieve higher efficiency. For this purpose, this laboratory
conducts basic research on the growth, maturation, and fertilization of
female gametes (oocytes) and seeks to discover biomolecules involvedin the formation, maturation, fertilization, and freezability of male gametes (sperm). These biomolecules are used to develop novel molecularprofiling protocols for gamete classification.

Developmental Biotechnology
Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of mammalian gametogenesis, fertilization, and embryonic development is key to effective livestock
production and human reproductive medicine. This laboratory conducts
research and education related to the elucidation of reproductive regulatory pathways at the molecular, cellular, and tissue levels, as well as thedevelopment of new technologies for in vitro culture and manipulationof oocytes and embryos.

Animal Nutrition and Metabolism
Research in this laboratory focuses on understanding the mechanisms underlying appetite regulation, adipogenesis, and myogenesis in chickens. The laborator y also has a major researchinterest in the development of functional ingredients to improvemeat and egg production in chickens.
D e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e C h a r a c t e r i z a t i o n o f D e ve l o p m e n t o f f u n c method for preventing s k e l e t a l m u s c l e s i n tional eggs
excessive accumulation chicken thigh meatof body fat in broiler
chickens

Animal Molecular Morphology
With our vast morphological findings and the latest knowledge ofmolecular biology, our laboratory aims to elucidate the sex determination and differentiation process of the ver tebrates. We arealso studying the biological effects and epigenetic alterations byenvironmental chemicals. Methodological approaches focus onmorphology and vary from the molecular to the biological level.

11

Control

Dissection ofmouse embryo forgonadal culture

I m m u n o fl u o re s ce n ce
staining of gonadal
tissue harvested
during the developmental stage

Treatment with the study
agent in combination
with physical stress

Diagrams illustratingchemically inducedchanges in murine
behavioral patterns

Histophysiology
For the purpose of understanding the processes underlying theformation of animal cell and tissue and the complex life phenomena caused by them, this laboratory promotes the researchon var ious biological defense mechanisms especially in the
animal digestive system. In addition, taking advantage of theresearch outputs, this laboratory provides education related toanimal histology and physiology.

Antibody
uptake insmall intestinal villi.

Tr a n s m i s s i o nelectron microscopic image ofsmall intestinal
epithelial cells

Transmission electron
microscopic imageof indigenous bacteria in the intestinal
chyme

Follicle-associatedintestinal crypt witha peculiar cellularcomposition

Microbiology and Immunology
Even now in 21st century, we -human beings, still fight against
various infectious diseases with great effort. By adopting molecular biology approaches, the research and education of ourlaboratory address issues related to human and animal pathogens, specifically focusing on three key questions: “ What are
the current problems related to infectious diseases?” , “ Whatcaused these problems?” and “What should we do to overcome
them?”.

D i ffe re n t i at i o n i n d u c t i o n o f m o u s e e m b r yo n a lcarcinoma cells (P19C6 cells, left) to neuron (right)

Elec tron microscopic
image of Ibaraki virus
particles

Animal Genetic Resources
Research in this laboratory focuses on improving economicallyimportant traits and evaluating and maintaining genetic diversities of livestock by the methods based on population and statist i c a l g e n e t i c s. Th e l a b o rato r y a l s o p ro m o te s f a r m - o r i e nte d
research, such as studies on feeding and management of Japanese Black ( “Wagyu” ) cattle.

Cell Signaling
This laborator y explores the life phenomena at the molecularand cellular level. Using fission yeast and mammalian cells as
models, the researchers investigate the regulation mechanismsof cell func tions in response to ex tracellular stimuli, such asp hys i o l o gi c a l l y a c t i ve s u b s t a n ce s, s t re s s e s, a n d n u t r i t i o n a lchanges through the intracellular signal transduction pathways.

Feeding experiment on cattle

ヒト培養細胞I m m u n o fl u o r e s c e n c e
microscopy of cultured
human cells

Improved Japanese Black cattle

分裂酵母

Detection ofproteins

Fluorescence microscopy offission yeast

12Plant Science

Provides students with research and education programs that aim at improving the productivity and quality of food crops, horticultural crops, industrial
crops, and trees all as resource plants that support our daily life throughstudying their physiology, ecology, and genetic characteristics.

Crop Science
This laboratory aims to improve plant productivity, establish
safe and sustainable cultivation methods, and identify new
applications and usages of plant resources. The research andeducation specifically relate to physiological mechanisms that
determine the photosynthetic capacity, stress tolerance, andlipid synthesis in food and industrial crops, weed control, as well
as utilization of plant-derived materials for new purposes, e.g.,
as sources of renewable energy.

0.5mm

Photosynthetic measurement(right) and gene expression analyses (left) of rice.

Oil crops. Vernonia galamensis (topleft); Helianthus annuus (sunflower)(top right); Ricinus communis(castor bean) (bottom left); Jatropha curcas (bottom right).

Plant Breeding
The research of this laborator y is focused on developing newc u l t i va r s a n d i m p rov i n g b re e d i n g e ffi c i e n c y. Th e i r re s e a rc he ff o r t s i n c l u d e g e n e r a t i o n o f n o v e l b r e e d i n g m a t e r i a l s b y
exploiting genetic resources of local varieties and wild relatives,
identification of agronomically important genes using molecularmarkers, and elucidation of the mechanisms underlying thephenotypic expression of those genes.

Cross-pollination in rice

Laboratory members with rice seedlings

Forest Resources
Our goal is to provide students with fundamental knowledge
and experience in the forest sciences (tree physiology and functional anatomy, forest ecology and pathology), which are necessar y for sustainable management of forests ecosystems. Our
research sites include plantation forests, “Satoyama” (secondary
forests used for fuel), primary forests, shrine/temple forests, andurban green space.

Horticultural Crop Propagation
Horticultural plants propagate either via seeds (sexually) or byvegetative reproduction (asexually). Seed propagation involves
p o l l i n a t i o n , fe r t i l i z a t i o n , a n d fo r m a t i o n o f s e e d s a n d f r u i t ,whereas vegetative propagation proceeds in the absence ofgametes. Seed formation plays a key role in fruit development.
The research and educational activities of this laborator y are
centered on the elucidation and control of these propagation
mechanisms, with the goal of enhancing fruit, seed, and seedling productivity.

Old-growth Sequoia forest (California, USA)

Cross-sectional microscopic imageof a fig stem (Ficus carica)

How is self-incompatibility
regulated?

How is heterosis mediated?

Compatible
pollen tube
growthI n co m p a t i b l epollen tube
growthSeed parent

F1

Pollen parent

Flowering regulation of carnation(upper),Breedingof stress-tolerant
Tg lettuce (lower)

Analysis of strawberry allergen andanti-allergic effect(upper),Antherculture of African
violet (lower)

Horticultural Crop Production
This laboratory aims to enhance the productivity and utility ofhorticultural products. We improve light use efficiency and theoperability of cultivation facilities with the goal of launchingeffective production systems. This laborator y will develop the
potential of plants by breeding of cultivars with improved stress
tolerance and functionality.

13

Lettuce grownunder pulsed
LED light

Dry-fog sprayfertigation forg r o w i n g s t raw berriesTropical Crop Science
There are a wide variety of plant species in tropical regions,which have a diversity of ecological environments, ranging fromarid to humid. This laboratory promotes research and education
concerning the adaptive mechanisms of tropical plants at theorganismal and molecular levels, with the goal of ensuring astable supply of valuable tropical plants.

Floating rice plants (right and left)
and Amazonian wild rice plants(center) grown under deep waterconditions

Gravitropism of excised stem
sections of rice, wheat and oat
under aerobic and anaerobic conditions

Wild pear germplasm collection

Laboratory members in Food
Resources Education and ResearchCenterPlant Germplasm Enhancement
This laboratory contributes to sustainable food production. With
the goal of developing efficient breeding programs and novel
breeding materials, this Laboratory provides also research andeducation on the collection, identification, preservation, evaluation, control, and utilization of plant genetic resources.

Field Science for Food Production (Cooperative division)(This course is only for doctoral program students.)

Field Science for Food Production
This laboratory promotes research to enhance quality and productivity of crops (e.g., rice, wheat), horticultural products (e.g.,vegetables, flowers, fruits), and livestock animals (e.g., cattle,
chickens) and promote ecologically and human friendly agricultural practices. Their research projects are academically based
and field-oriented.

UV-B lighting system in greenhousestrawberry

Captivate the world’s tongue"kobe
beef"

14

Agrobioscience

Applied Chemistryin Bioscience

Provides students with research and education programs that clarify theliving organisms ingest and produce, the chemical structure and action in
the environment around the organisms, and diverse life systems at themolecular level, and that leverage, synthesize, control and develop them.

Biological Chemistry
Our laboratory investigates the biological and biochemical activities of animals (eel, silkworm), plants (Arabidopsis, herbs), andmicrobes (E. coli, koji) on the basis of gene expression protein
structure and function, and their molecular regulatory systems.
Furthermore, our research and education are aimed to contribute the application of the biological enzymes and chemicals in
the agricultural, food, and fine chemical industries.

Right: Fluorescence charts of qRT-PCR analysis.
Middle: Arabidopsis seedlings of wild type (upper left) and plastidic RNA polymerase-deficient mutants.
Left: An enzyme-substrate binding analysis by the molecular dynamics simulation.

Food and Nutritional Chemistry
Nutritional and non-nutritional components of food mediate,
either directly or indirectly, the physiological functions of thehuman body via the signal transduction pathways. This laboratory focuses on the elucidation of regulatory mechanisms at themolecular and organismal levels. It also provides research andeducation concerning the development of functional foods.

Anti-allergic
potential

Esthetic
potential

Anti-tumor
potential

Detoxification
Immunemodulation

Diseases

lifestyle-related,
immunologic, andother disorders

Students actively engaged in experimentation with laboratory animals
and cell cultures

Discovery of the functions of foodelements will contribute to disease
prevention

Parasitic plant Strega hermonthica
at S u d a n ( ce nt e r ) . G e r m i n at i o nstimulant:stigolactone (Upper left).
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometer(Upper right).

G l ow i n g b i va l ve m o l l u s k P h o l a s
dactylus (Upper left). its blue bioluminescence(Upper right).
Organic substance for the bioluminescence; dehydrocoelenterazine(Center).

Natural Products ChemistryThis laboratory is devoted to research and education for chemical synthesis of biologically active natural organic compounds
and the identification of structure–activity relationships, leveraging organic synthetic approaches.

PhytochemistryThis laboratory implements research and education aimed at promoting basic understanding and practical applications of plant
functions. The interests of this laborator y include analysis andelucidation of the following topics: chemical structure, biosynthesis, and mechanisms of action of secondary metabolites of plantorigin; interactions between plants and living organisms in their
periphery; and plant responses to environmental stimuli.

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Elucidation of chemical struc ture ofhatching factor for potato cyst nematode and its biosynthesis

Visualization of volatile-mediatedchemical communication between
plants by fluorescence microscopyChemistry and Utilization ofAnimal Production Resources
Our research laborator y is focusing on the proteins and lipids
which are major ingredients of animal resources.
Specifically, we investigate function of enz ymes and lipids tofind new markers for quality control of food and some diseases,
and to develop functional foods, health care products, and medicine. In the research, we utilize k nockout mice and cultured
animal cells focusing on signal transduction and microbiota.
On the other hand, proteins and lipids are important factors in
the flavor and texture of foods. We also investigate bioactive
compounds in those constituents and their digestion mechanism and conduct research aimed at increasing the value of foodand livestock products.

DGKβ KO mouse, which shows
impairment of memory and its
neurons has less branches, indicating importance of DGKβ in morphological change of neurons andhigher brain function.

I m m u n o fl u o r e s ce n t s t a i n i n g a n dtissue special staining of cultured
animal cells

Environmental Microbiology
For the purpose of utilizing microbial resources, this laboratory
isolated useful natural microorganisms and characterizes theirenz ymatic and genetic traits. The research and educational
ac tivities of this laborator y are aimed at applying microbial
enzymes to selective useful compounds and extraction of biologically active substances from biomass residues. This laboratory also focuses on essential understandings of reaction mechanisms and structures of biologically functional proteins by utilizing methodologies of biophysical chemistry.

(Clockwise from upper left) Halotolerant hydrolytic enzymes producing Bacillus sp., Aspergillus repens and A. glaucus for Katsuo bonito fermentation,
eggshell membrane degrading Pseusomonas sp., thermotolerant Streptomyces
spp. isolated from Thai land, photosynthetic Cyanobacterium, thermophilic
purple sulfur photosynthetic bacterium

Biochemistry Frontiers
The research and education interests of this laboratory relate toovercoming challenges concerning human health, food supply,and environmental conservation. For this purpose, researchers
work to identify useful biological capabilities and functional
biomolecules, and to clarify their mechanisms of action.
Estimation methods for functionsof food components.

Prevention effects of food components on hyperglycemia.

16Plant Health,Environment andBiotechnology

This Division fosters scientists who contribute to plant health maintenance and promotion and biosphere conservation. Students learn clinicalplant science and environmental science concerning plant stressors (e.g.,
climate change, soil salinities, low-level nutrients, pollutants, disease,insects) and plant stress responses (e.g., by changes in cell structure,signal transduction, gene expression).

Environmental Chemistry
Using a wide variety of techniques, including genetic engineering, biochemistr y, precision measurements, nanotechnology,
plant physiology, environmental plant science, and instrumental
analysis, this laboratory investigates the safety and distributionof substances relevant to agriculture and food, such as pesticides, food constituents, and environmental pollutants.

Micro-patterned model
biological membrane

Zucchini

Evaluation of human safety ofenvironmental chemicals

Insect Molecular Biology
This laborator y investigates the following topics with various
species of insects: evolution of morphology and behavior, metamorphosis, diapause, endocrinology, neural transmission, sensor y reception, biological clock, and photoperiodism. Molecularunderstanding of physiological characteristics and adaptation
mechanisms of insects contributes to pest control and utilization of beneficial insects.

DNA microarray analys i s o f s i l k wo r m g e n e
expression.

Photoperiodic response curveof silkworm.

Pupae: silkworm(lef t) and Chinese
oak silkmoth(right).

Insect Biodiversity and Ecosystem Science
Insects are the most diverse group of organisms on the planet,
and they include pests, their natural enemies, and pollinators ofcrops. We study insect diversity, biology of insect pests and theirnatural enemies, and the ecological role of insects in agriculturaland forest ecosystems.
Insects are dissected with tweezers
under a stereomicroscope.

A moth larva is being attacked by aparasitoid wasp.

Cell Function and StructureThis laboratory studies plant-microbe interactions with a particular interest in microscopic morphological changes and epigenetic modifications of the genomes during their interactions. The
research and educational activities are aimed at elucidation of
the underlying molecular mechanisms and application ofresearch findings for human benefit.
Elucidation of plant-pathogen interactions by cytological and genomics
approaches

Plant Genetics
Using crops and their wild relatives, this laborator y engages in
identifying specific genes responsible for natural variations andgenetic differentiation. We also analyze genetic factors involved ingenome-genome interactions based on interspecific hybridization.
Special attention is paid to the genetic mechanisms underlying
speciation and allopolyploid establishment, as well as applicationof the research findings for crop breeding.

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Scanning electron
microscopic imageof the cross-sectionalsurface of the grainof common wheat

Spikes of threewild wheat
relatives

A ultra-high-density
genetic linkage map ofcommon wheat

Crop Evolution
Employing multifaceted approaches that combine genetics, ecology, and fieldwork, researchers of this laboratory identify the genes
involved in crop plant domestication and investigate their roles,
with the goal of elucidating the genetics of domestication andlocating genes useful for agricultural applications.
DNA gel electrophoresis

Fieldwork in a crop market in South
India

Plant Nutrition
Plants are frequently exposed to environmental stressors, in particular, reactive oxygen species resulting from photosynthesis,
w h ich may co mprom ise p la nt growt h a n d p ro d u c t i v i t y. Th e
research activities of this laborator y focus on helping plants
acquire nutritional support in order to overcome stress crises,
thereby allowing them to grow throughout their full life cycles.

Sunlight is very dangerous for chilled plants.

Plant Pathology
How have plant pathogens obtained their ability to parasitize
particular hosts? How have certain crop individuals gained theirdisease resistance? This laboratory seeks to answer these questions
at the genetic, chromosomal, and genomic levels with the goalof developing new cultivars with durable resistance. Fostering
professionals capable of plant disease diagnosis is also a missionof this Laboratory.

Ca n i d i a o f t h e r i ce
blast fungus Pyricularia oryzae

Rice leaf infectedwith the blast fungus

Fi e l d s t u d y o f w h i t e r u s t
infection of Chinese
cabbage

Soil Science
To address the problems of climate change and global warming,
we investigate soil carbon dynamics and these processes inpedosphere around the world. Especially, we focus on roles ofthe soil organic matter which supports the plant productivity inforests and agricultural lands. In addition, we promote researches and educations directly linked to food supply and environmental problems.

A ve r t i c a l s o i l p ro fi l e to a n a l y ze
relationships between the radioactive cesium and the plant root or thesoil organic matter.

A n a n a l ys i s o f v a r i o u s c h e m i c a lelements in the pedosphere.

Patterned model membrane

Nanogap-junction

Cell Signaling and Regulation
Biological membranes play essential roles in regulating the cells.
We are developing a synthetic model system of the biologicalmembranes on solid substrate for basic biophysical studies andbiomedical applications. The model system enables to study themembrane functions at the molecular level, and should lead tothe realization of novel biomedical applications.

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FACILITY

Food Resources Education and Research Center
The Food Resources Education and Research Center is located in the central area of Banshu Plains in Kasai City. It is approximately 70 km west of
Rokko-dai campus where the Graduate School of Agricultural Science is located. The Center holds 40 ha land areas including 28.3 ha of field areas forcultivation (paddy rice fields, orchard, grass and forage field, etc.). There are three agricultural production sections: crop (e.g., rice, soybean, cabbage,onion, potato, and sweet potato), fruits (e.g., grape, pear, and kaki) and livestock (e.g., beef cattle along with forage crops and grasses). The Centerengages in educational, research, and local-community activities based on the real-scale and high-quality agricultural production.
The importance of practical farm training is worthwhile emphasized, as there exist discrepancies between food production and its consumption in thecontemporary society. Our aim is to provide an opportunity to capture the essence of agriculture and to deepen the thoughts for agricultural scienceby experiencing real scale agriculture. The Center has been approved as a Joint Usage/Education Center in Japan by the Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology since 2014. The Center carries out the farming practices for undergraduates from universities in the Kansai region as
well as from Kobe University.
To accomplish sustainable agriculture, researches are conducted primarily through genetic approaches such as genetic improvement in plants andprediction of genetic merits in animals. We research on exploration, collection, identification, preservation, evaluation, control, and utilization of plant
genetic resources to find efficient breeding programs and develop new breeding materials for sustainable food strategies. More efficient and sustainable animal breeding systems are researched through the analyses of genetic evaluation and structure in animal resources. In addition to the genetic
approaches, efficient use of farm implements and information technology is also explored based on biological and ecological traits of the crops, suchas mechanical weeding without agrochemicals or no-tillage cultivation with significantly less energy input, from a direct viewpoint of the sustainability. Three research fields “Animal Genetic Resources”, “Plant Germplasm Enhancement” and “Field Machinery and Plant Production” of the Graduate
School of Agricultural Science are stationed in the Center, which provide opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to earn Bachelor’s,
Master’s and PhD degrees.
Agricultural products as outcomes of education and research activities are sold at market, known as Kobe University's "Beef", "Potato", "Onion", "Pear","Grape", etc. High quality Japanese sake with a brand name of "Kami-no-Manimani" is also produced by our collaboration with sake-brewing company.
For more details about the Center, please access our website: https://www.edu.kobe-u.ac.jp/ans-foodres/

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Grass cutting for cattle feed

Sweet potato planting

Cattle barn

Greenhouse

Pear picking

Feeding to cattle

Japanese black cattle

Rice transplanting

Center for Regional Partnership
The Center for Regional Partnership was established to meet regional challenges, promote value creation and act as a hub of region.
Our missions are to contribute solving regional issues using knowledge of the Graduate School of Agricultural Science, provide afield for learning to students and citizens based on experiences of local people, and contribute regional self-development in Japanand world creating new knowledge. The center is tackling the following topics with two field stations in Tamba-Sasayama andHigashi-Harima.
Cooperative Research: With the participation of members of the local government agencies, regional community groups, non-profit
organizations, and cooperatives, faculty staff members lead research projects for sustainable local development. In addition, thecenter assists the researchers of the Graduate School of Agricultural Science to initiate cooperative research and provide logisticalsupport for their implementation.
Collaborative Practical Activities: The center promotes practical activities for creating and sharing knowledge between region anduniversity. Other activities of the center include: provision of support to student and group activities that implement community
empowerment activities in rural areas, collection and publication of literature and materials relating to regional partnership, andsocial networking and learning opportunities, such as workshops and seminars.
Consultation and Information Dissemination Services: As a point of contact between the local community and Kobe University,
the center provides consultation services for a diversity of clients. In addition, the center actively provides accessible information by
hosting open workshops on the outcomes of cooperative research and collaborative practical activities, as well as
community-oriented workshops. The center’s website (https://www.edu.kobe-u.ac.jp/ans-chiiki/) presents a summary of pastcooperative research, as well as information on past and upcoming collaborative practical activities.
Cooperative Education on Food and Agriculture: The educational program aims to learn regional situation from the standpoint offarm producers and local residents, and foster human resources who can contribute to practical problem-solving in the field of foodand agriculture. The program consists of the following lectures: ‘Introduction to Practical Agronomics’, ‘Practical Agronomics’
supported by farmers in Tamba-Sasayama and ‘Theory on Agricultural Environment in Hyogo Prefecture A and B’ under cooperation
with MAFF, JA and Hyogo prefecture.

Cooperative research

Collaborative practical activities

Consultation and information
dissemination services

Cooperative education onfood and agriculture

Research Center for Food Safety and Security (RCFSS)
Since its establishment in April 2006 as the first food safety orientated academic institution in
Japan, the RCFSS has been pioneering a comprehensive research area for establishment of a global
standard of scientific theory and technology which contributes to food safety and its security.
The RCFSS has recently developed Kobe University Human Intestinal Model (KUHIM) system, which
consists of both in vitro cultured (1) immune intestinal model and (2) intestinal microbiota model inorder to promote research and education to validate the function and safety of the food using
KUHIM as a core technology. In addition we are going to put efforts on research and education forstable food supply through plant protection technology.
The RCFSS is engaged in not only stand-alone research and education programs that employ its own
facilities and equipment but also various joint research and educational activities in cooperation
with many laboratories within Kobe University and other universities. In addition, the RCFSS
promotes food-safety research and social awareness campaigns in collaboration with local governments, national institutes, non-governmental organizations, food and drug manufactures and otheruniversities who share the same food safety and security oriented discipline. The RCFSS provides
the special lectures, 'Practical Seminar for Food Safety Technology', and 'Practical Inspection
Technology for Food and Agricultural Materials Safety’ in partnership with Food and Agricultural
Materials Inspection Center (FAMIC).
For more details about the RCFSS, please visit our website: http://www.research.kobe-u.ac.jp/ans-foodss/index.html.

Intestinal microbiota model

Real-time PCR system

High performance liquid chromatograph

20

ACCESSROUTE MAP
Hōjōmachi

Food Resources Education and Research Center

Hokkeguchi

Hojo
Railway

Kobe
Electric
Railway

Ao

Akashi

JR Kobe Line

Rokkomichi

Hanshin Main Line

Kyoto

Juso

Hankyu Kobe Line

Rokko
Sannomiya

Kawaramachi

Shin-Osaka

Kobe University

Kobe Municipal
SubwayShinkaichi

Kakogawa

Hotarugaike

HankyuTakarazuka Line

JR Shinkansen

Shin-Kobe

JR Kakogawa Line

Osaka Monorail

Osaka International Airport

Amagasaki

Osaka(Umeda)MikageJR
Osaka Municipal
Tozai
SubwayLine

Port Liner

JR Osaka Loop Line

Kyobashi

Namba

Kobe Airport
Nankai
Airport Line

TennojiKansai International Airport
JR Kansai-airport Line

KOBE
Kobe, Japan

Sapporo

Kyoto
Tokyo

Fukuoka

NagoyaGraduate School of Agricultural Sciencein Rokko-dai Campus

Osaka

1-1 Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe 657-8501 Japan
Phone: +81(0)78-803-5928

Food Resources Education andResearch Center in Kasai City
70km west of Rokko-dai Campus

1348 Uzurano-cho, Kasai, 675-2103 Japan
Phone: +81(0)790-49-0341

Naha(Okinawa)

Famous of Kobe

Ijinkan21

Meriken Park

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

Graduate School of Agricultural Science

Food Resources Education and Research CenterWeb site

http://www.ans.kobe-u.ac.jp/english/

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