Dr Masaru Iwanaga used to run the CIAT genebank and has been deputy director general of Bioversity International and director general of CIMMYT. He is now director of the National Institute of Crop Science in Tsukuba, Japan. He’s had a lifelong committment to the use of agricultural biodiversity. He was recently interviewed for Japanese TV, and a preview of the result is online. (You can also download the full 28 minute video but you have to install stuff.) Alas, it is, of course, entirely in Japanese, but it seems to me that everybody enjoyed the experience tremendously. Just wish I could follow what’s going on. Can anyone help with a translation?
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Our colleague Yurie Naito of Bioversity has kindly provided this precis of the 5 min version of the video. Thanks, Yurie, that’s really great, much appreciated!
During this TV show (this one is called Rice Revolution), 2 comedians visit Iwanaga-san to find out about research on agriculture that he’s working on. Iwanaga-san suggests that they would have a discussion (debate/battle) on the importance of agricultural biodiversity.
On the way to his office, Iwanaga-san shows the comedians a wheat field. One of the projects that the research center is working on is breeding of wheat. He explains that Japanese depend on imported wheat to make Ramen noodles (soup noodle) so the project aims to identify/create variety so that wheat can also be produced more in Japan.
Little biography of Iwanaga-san: He has been conducting research on plants/agriculture for the past 30 years in international organizations in Peru, Colombia, Italy, USA, and Mexico. He has visited many “developing” countries and identified/developed varieties that suited the local environment and people. Since his return to Japan last year, he has been continuing on research projects, using advanced Japanese agricultural technology, to improve the livelihood of the poor people in the world. HE IS ALSO KNOWN AS LAST SAMURAI OF AGRICULTURE.
In his office the comedians are asked to try 3 different types of steamed rice and find out what type (brand) of rice they are. Iwanaga-san explains that he often does this experiment to let people understand what agriculture is. Iwanaga-san gets surprised as one comedian answered right on one type of rice before tasting it, from the way that particular steamed rice shines. then the experiment starts.
Dear Dr. Massaru Iwanaga:
Cordial saludo:
Personalmente he seguido toda la trayectoria de las investigaciones científicas del Dr. Massaru Iwanaga, pues es para mi de veras que un gran científico de la genética de plantas y el desarrollo de investigaciones pioneras en el mundo de la agroecologia.
Soy una admiradora estudiante de tesis bajo su tutoría, pues tuve el honor de conocerlo personalmente en el CIAT, Palmira Valle-Colombia.
Me gustaría volver a verlo en nuestro pais pero se que viajó al japón
Espero que esté muy bien en ese pais y continue cosechando de la gran sabiduría que el posee.
Su alumna de tesis,
Betty Triana Piedrahita.
Cel:3014579915- 74 fijo 3716555
calle 69 No. 4 B 04 Parque Res. El Bosque Cali. Valle Colombia