Call for Nominations: 2026 (The 20th) Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers (Japan Award)

〇The Award honors young foreign researchers who have made outstanding achievements in research and development related to agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and associated industries in developing regions.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) are pleased to announce that nominations for the 2026 Japan Award are now open.
The Award marks the 20th presentation in 2026. We look forward to receiving submissions representing a wider diversity of research achievements, making this an opportunity to further expand the global network for international agricultural, forestry, and fisheries research.

1. Overview

The Japan Award is the prize aiming to increase motivation among young researchers contributing to research and development in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and related industries in developing regions, by awarding young foreign researchers having shown outstanding performance or produced research achievements that may lead to future innovation. The Award was launched in 2007, and 2026 marks its 20th presentation.

2. Eligibility

Candidates must be researchers who have the nationality of a developing country and/or territory, are under 40 years old as of January 01, 2026, belong to a non-Japanese research institute or a non-Japanese university, are engaged in research and development in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and related industries in developing regions, and fall under any of the following criteria (Note: Those who have applied for and missed the award in previous years are eligible to re-apply).

(a) Those who have shown outstanding performance in research and development in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, or related industries for a developing region, and who show great promise.

(b) Those who have shown outstanding achievements in research and development that will lead to future technological innovation in agriculture, forestry, fisheries or related industries for a developing region, and who show great promise.

The candidates, in principle, must be able to attend the awarding ceremony in person that will be held in Japan and to deliver a lecture.

3. Award

(1) Up to three awardees will be selected from candidates after a selection process by the selection committee.

(2) Each awardee will be invited to Japan and presented a certificate by the Chairman of the AFFRC during the awarding ceremony, and will also receive a cash prize of US$5,000 each from JIRCAS (MOTAI-JIRCAS Award*).

＊The Award is operated by the donation from Mr. Shigeru MOTAI, a former Chairman of the AFFRC, supported by JIRCAS.

4. How to apply

• For application forms and application guidelines, please visit the website of JIRCAS (the following link).   https://www.jircas.go.jp/en/young_award/2026
• Applications must be submitted by recommending research institutes(either research institutes universities, Japanese or non-Japanese).
• Only one researcher can be recommended from each recommending research institute, including its branches.
• The deadline for submission of all application documents (paper and electronic) is Friday, May 15, 2026 JST.

5. Others

• Poster:2026 Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers(PDF : 1,005KB)
• For information about previous awardees, please click on the following link.
  https://www.affrc.maff.go.jp/kokusaikenkyu/young_foreigner_researcher_e.htm
• The awarding ceremony of the 2025 (The 19th) Japan Award.
  Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0EHBxQsH6o
  Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc2pWoXPeFs