Research activities
Practical Studies in Asia Lab.
Problem-oriented research conducted inrural Cambodia
Rural Cambodia fell into extreme poverty during the Pol Pot regime(1975-1979) and the subsequent period of turmoil. Even today, thecountry struggles with low agricultural productivity and poor income.
The genocide that occurred during the regime's rule lef t local
u n i v e r s i t i e s s h o r t- s t a ﬀ e d . Co n s e q u e n t l y, t h ey a re u n a b l e toadequately fulﬁll their resp onsibilit y to inform local p olic y byi d e ntif yi n g a n d a d d ressi n g t h e co u nt r y 's cu rre nt a g ri cu lt u ral
conditions and challenges.
Since 2000, the ICREA has been supporting the Royal University ofAgriculture (RUA) in Cambodia. This support aims to strengthen theireducational and research capabilities, helping to reform theireducational system and establish master's and doctoral programs inagricultural sciences. Additionally, an international collaborative

Local staﬀ providing instructions to a brewing farmer.

project between the ICREA and the RUA, launched in 2008 in rural Cambodia, serves as a research and education platform for RUA
faculty and students, providing vital opportunities for human resource development in the country. Some individuals trained in thisproject have recently found careers in government and academia, leading to multiple other joint research projects involving otheruniversities and government agencies.
We are particularly committed to action research, focusing on traditional food products that are vanishing from the market due tothe impacts of the civil war and social transformations triggered by recent rapid economic growth. Action research allows us toidentify and address current conditions and challenges, test and implement solutions in real-world settings, and promote their broader
application to resolve or mitigate these challenges.

Study of the impact of using a small-scale biogas system for forest conservation in
Nepal's hilly region
Timber harvesting for ﬁrewood, used for everyday cooking, is one of the major
contributors to deforestation in Nepal . Since the 1970s, the local government,
non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international organizations have beenpromoting the use of small-scale biogas systems utilizing livestock manure as analternative to ﬁrewood. Our laboratory has been collaborating with a local NGO inNepal since 2008 to analyze the eﬀectiveness and impacts of using small-scale biogas
systems as an alternative to ﬁrewood. This analysis has demonstrated their signiﬁcantrole in reducing ﬁrewood consumption. However, despite these advancements, thedeterioration of communit y-managed forests and wildlife -related damages haveoccasionally been observed in the country. To clarify the current situation and makepolicy recommendations to government agencies, we are currently conducting
quantitative and qualitative analyses to understand the changes in local residents'
livelihood activities and forest management practices.

Deteriorated forests in Nepal.

(Kasumi ITO)

Publications
Journal of International Cooperation for Agricultural Development
URL: https://icrea.agr.nagoya-u.ac.jp/jpn/journal/backnumber.html
The Journal of International Cooperation for Agricultural Development (JICAD) oﬀers a platform to support
individuals looking to apply their agricultural science expertise in the ﬁeld of international cooperation.
This journal publishes peer-reviewed articles that explore world aﬀairs from agricultural perspectives,propose the potential of multinational agricultural research, and present case reports on how cutting-edge
research ﬁndings can help address global issues. The Japan Intellectual Support Network in AgriculturalSciences (JISNAS) oversees the editing of articles submitted for publication. Beginning with Volume 14,
issues will be available as electronic journals on the J-STAGE platform.

05 International Center for Research and Education in Agriculture（ICREA）, Nagoya University