Japan highlighted its expanding support for Philippine agriculture during a two-day visit to Negros Occidental by Ambassador Endo Kazuya from December 1–2, 2025. The centerpiece of the trip was a research presentation and symposium in Bacolod City organized by the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS), focusing on “Sustainable Development of Sugarcane Cultivation in the Philippines.”
The event showcased the latest findings from joint research by JIRCAS and the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA). Experts presented new techniques designed to make sugarcane farming more productive and resilient, including methods to cope with extreme weather. Yanmar Philippines also demonstrated modern machinery aimed at improving efficiency in sugarcane fields.
Ambassador Endo later visited the JIRCAS–SRA demonstration farm to see deep planting technology, a key innovation being tested to stabilize sugarcane yields. The visit continued with tours of the SRA’s La Granja Agricultural Research and Extension Center in La Carlota City and the OISCA Training Center in Bago City, where Japan-funded projects are helping develop local industries such as silk production.
The series of activities underscored Japan’s commitment to strengthening agricultural research and supporting a more sustainable future for the Philippine sugarcane sector.
