Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers (Japan Award)

Japan Award is the prize aiming to increase motivation of young researchers who are contributing to research and development (R&D) in agriculture, forestry, fisheries and related industries in developing countries. This award was launched in 2007 and have recognized 57 young researchers from around the world by 2025. They have become one of the bridges of research collaboration between their countries and Japan.

The awarding ceremony of the 2025 (The 19th) Japan Award.

Click here for videos overview of the awards and comments from past winners.

• https://youtu.be/_osgMY5SWlE
• https://youtu.be/eFoDCqS1tMI

Awardees

• The age of awardees is as of January 1, award year.
• Professional Affiliation is as of the award.
• The details of the research described in the outline of research achievement were prepared by the awardees themselves.

2025(The 19th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Vignesh MUTHUSAMY(38)	Genetic biofortification and dissemination of Indian maize hybrids for enhanced nutritional security	Indian Agricultural Research Institute, India
Dr. Ivan Eduardo RAMIREZ MORALES(39)	Research on Artificial Intelligence in agriculture, aquaculture and livestock production and its international application and deployment	Technological University of Machala, Ecuador
Dr. Addisu Fekadu ANDETA(38)	Research on Innovative Enset Processing and Fermentation Technologies and its Deployment in Five Regions of Ethiopia	Arba Minch University, Ethiopia

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 742KB)
• (Archive) 2025 (The 19th) Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers (part1, part2)

2024(The 18th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Elliott Ronald DOSSOU-YOVO(37)	Water management innovations to enhance smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change in rice-based systems in sub-Saharan Africa	Africa Rice Center, Benin
Dr. Andrés Javier CORTÉS VERA(34)	Research on the use of native genetic resources for the molecular hybrid breeding of common bean as a nature-based solution for the deployment of economic, sustainable and peaceful development in marginal communities across Colombia	Colombian Agricultural Research Corporation (AGROSAVIA), Colombia
Dr. Jutamat KLINSODA(36)	Enhancement safety and nutrition along the chain of feeds, foods, and agricultural products by 16S rRNA gene sequencing microbiome innovation	Kasetsart University, Thailand

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 688KB)
• (Archive) 2024 (The 18th) Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers (part1,part2 )

2023(The 17th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Khalisanni KHALID(37)	Development of Nanofertilizer using Flexible Nanoparticle Catalysis Technology	Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Malaysia
Dr. Avijit GHOSH(30)	Development and Evaluation of Ecofriendly Soil Health Management Strategies for Semi-arid and Sub-humid Region of India	ICAR-Indian Grassland and Fodder Research Institute(IGFRI) , India
Dr. Martin Paul Jr. TABE-OJONG(30)	Improving Smallholder Commercialization and Reducing Poverty through the Adoption of Improved Crop Varieties in Africa	International Food Policy Research Institute, the United States

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 804KB)
• (Archive) 2023 (The 17th) Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers (part1, part2)

2022(The 16th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Tovohery RAKOTOSON(39)	Addressing phosphorus deficiency in rice in Sub-Saharan Africa	University of Antananarivo, Madagascar
Dr. Leonardo CRESPO HERRERA(39)	Genetic improvement of global wheat, including progress for enhancing insect resistance	International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, Mexico
Dr. Athanasia Amanda SEPTEVANI(37)	The Value of Agricultural Waste: Cellulose as a Building Block for Materials	National Research and Innovation Agency, Indonesia

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 1,537KB)
• (Archive) 2022 (The 16th) Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers (part 1, part 2)

2021(The 15th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Sahadev SHARMA(39)	Mangrove forest blue carbon research for effective nature-based solutions to mitigate climate change in Asia Pacific region	University of Malaya, India
Dr. Hala GAMAL ALI ALI EL DAOUS(30)	Establishment of a novel diagnostic test for Bovine leukaemia virus infection using direct filter PCR	Benha University, Egypt
Dr. James Seutra KABA(38)	Nitrogen nutrition of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) in intercropping systems with gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Kunth ex Walp.)	Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 1,264KB)
• (Archive) 2021 (The 15th) Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers

2020(The 14th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Saraswathipura Lakshmaiah KRISHNAMURTHY (39)	Development of salt-tolerant rice varieties through conventional and molecular breeding approaches	Indian Council of Agricultural Research-Central Soil Salinity Research Institute (ICAR-CSSRI), India
Dr. Kwanrawee SIRIKANCHANA (39)	Novel microbial tools to distinguish fecal pollution sources from livestock for effective agricultural watershed management	Chulabhorn Research Institute, Thailand
Dr. Edmore GASURA (37)	Strengthening quality protein maize resilience and utilization as nutritious food and feed in rural areas of Zimbabwe	University of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 675KB)

2019(The 13th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Jacobo ARANGO MEJIA (38)	Research on tropical forage grasses to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change	International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), Colombia
Ms.MAI Thi Ngan (34)	Development of a simple, accurate, and economical diagnostic test and pooled testing system for detection of porcine epidemic diarrhoea virus	Vietnam National University of Agriculture, Vietnam
Dr. Rebijith KAYATTUKANDY BALAN (33)	Molecular approaches in identification, diversity and management of important insect pests in India	Plant Health and Environment Laboratory, Ministry for Primary Industries, New Zealand, India

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 485KB)

2018(The 12th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Andry ANDRIAMANANJARA (38)	Organic matter dynamics in agroecosystems of Madagascar and its effective use for crop production	University of Antananarivo, Madagascar
Dr.Farah Fazwa Md Ariff (38)	Production of high quality planting materials of popular herbal species in Malaysia, Labisia pumila	Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Malaysia
Dr. Jinyong ZHANG (37)	Study on diverse micro-organisms responsible for fatal parasitic disease outbreaks in farmed freshwater fish, and development of biology-based preventative measures against the diseases	Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 692KB)

2017(The 11th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Chandra Siddaiah NAYAKA (39)	Plant-pathogen system biology and biotechnological approaches for plant disease management	University of Mysore, India
Dr.Min AUNG(39)	Dairy researches on production performances and health of dairy cows, livelihoods of local farners and environmental concerns	University of Veterinary Science, Myanmar
Dr. Sheetal SHARMA (37)	Development of innovative approaches to enable small-holder farmers of South Asia to achieve gains in productivity and profitability through use of cutting edge Information & Communication Technologies to guide application of site-specific nutrient and crop management options	International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), India

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 467KB)

2016(The 10th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Musaida Mercy MANYUCHI(32)	Production of Vermicompost and Vermiwash Bio-fertilizers from Food Waste	Harare Institute of Technology, Zimbabwe
Dr. Gezahegn Girma TESSEMA (36)	Novel Approaches for the Improvement of  Yam Germplasm Conservation and Breeding	International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ethiopia
Dr. Alonzo Alulod GABRIEL (35)	Precision Food Processing: Establishment of Mathematical Models for Microbiological and Physicochemical Food Properties for Food Safety, Food Defense, and Food Quality	University of the Philippines, Diliman, Philippines

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 516KB)

2015(The 9th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Ani WIDIASTUTI (38)	Mechanism, potency and practical application of heat shock-induced resistance	Gadjah Mada University, Indonesia
Dr. Viengsakoun NAPASIRTH(37)	Development and utilization of silage technique and agro-industrial by-products for cattle feed for the promotion of sustainable livestock agriculture in Laos	National University of Laos, Laos
Dr. Atef SWELAM (39)	Development of a cost-effective raisedbed machine for small-scale farms to improve land and water productivity in the Nile Delta	International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA), Egypt

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 434KB)

2014(The 8th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Giriraj AMARNATH (36)	Enhancing Resilience to Agricultural Flood-Risks and Adaptation for Smallholder Farmers in Asia and Africa	International Water Management Institute, India
Dr. HO Le Thi (39)	Allelopathy and Allelochemicals in Vietnam Local Cucumber Variety and Vietnamese Rice Cultivars	Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Vietnam
Dr. Asad JAN (38)	Analysis of Plant Growth Regulation under Abiotic Stress Conditions	The University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Pakistan

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 1,104KB)

2013(The 7th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Lee Hong TNAH (31)	Timber tracking system of an important Malaysian timber species, Neobalanocarpus heimii (Dipterocarpaceae) using DNA approach	Forest Research Institute Malaysia, Malaysia
Dr. Nouhoun BELKO (35)	High throughput phenotyping and selection for drought tolerance in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. (Walp.)).	Senegalese Agricultural Research Institute, Burkina Faso
Dr. Panuwan CHANTAWANANNKUL (38)	Honey bee pathology and development of beekeeping in Asia	Chiang Mai University, Thailand

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 276KB)

2012(The 6th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Sudisha Jogaiah (37)	Antimildew compounds from wood rot fungi and sequence characterized amplified region markers associated with downy mildew disease resistance in pearl millet	University of Mysore, India
Ms. Kanokwan Srirattana (30)	Improvement of reproductive biotechnology techniques for livestock and endangered species	Suranaree University of Technology, Thailand
Dr. Lijun Yin (40)	Development of technology for quality and functionality improvement of traditional foods, and application of novel emulsifying technology for new processing system	China Agricultural University, China

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 510KB)

2011(The 5th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Roel Rodriguez Suralta (37)	Significance of root plasticity in maintaining dry matter production in rice under fluctuating soil moisture stresses	Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Philippines
Dr. Muhammad Abdul Alim (39)	Study on tick molecular biology with a view to development of novel control strategies for ticks and tick borne diseases	Bangladesh Agricultural University, Bangladesh
Dr. Jonne Rodenburg (36)	Developing socially acceptable weed management strategies for resource-poor rice farmers	Africa Rice Center, Netherlands

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 475KB)

2010 (The 4th)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Dewpura Acharige Lilisiya LEELAMANIE (35)	Experimental study on soil water repellency and its behavior	University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka
Dr. Rattiya WAEONUKUL (31)	Development of multienzyme complexes for the effective degradation of lignocellulosic biomass	King Mongkut’s University of Technology, Thonburi (KMUTT), Thailand
Dr. Jianbing YAN (34)	Provitamin A biofortification in maize grain	International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center(CIMMYT), China

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 1,137KB)

2009 (The 3rd)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Ma. Junemie Hazel Leonida Lebata-Ramos(37)	Stock enhancement of commercially important and threatened marine invertebrates in tropical areas	Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center-Aquaculture Department(SEAFDEC/AQC), Philippines
Dr. Amos Adeyinka Onasanya(39)	Molecular and pathotyping characterization of blast, rice yellow mottle virus, bacterial leaf blight and African rice gall midge in West Africa	Africa Rice Center (Africa Rice), Benin
Dr. Kevin Kit Siong Ng(33)	Spatial structure and impact of logging on genetic diversity of selected tropical tree species	Forest Research Institute Malaysia(FRIM), Malaysia

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 94KB)

2008 (The 2nd)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Xiaoyuan Yan(37)	Developing greenhouse gases emission inventories for croplands and evaluating their environmental impacts	Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Science(ISSCAS), China
Ms. Maryam Ambundo Imbumi(29)	African leafy vegetables, promotion and research for improved nutrition, health and incomes	Kenya Resource Centre for Indigenous Knowledge(KENRIK), Kenya
Dr. Thuy Thi Thu Nguyen(36)	Application of molecular genetics in aquaculture and fisheries management	Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific(NACA), Thailand

• Outline of Research Achievement(PDF : 72KB)

2007 (The 1st)

Name(Age)	Title of Research Achievement	Professional Affiliation
Dr. Zhengqiang Jiang(36)	Research and application of enzymes in the field of food processing	China Agricultural University(CAU), China
Dr. Chalermpol Kirdmanee(39)	Research, development and extension on in vitro selection and mass-propagation for producing high qualitytransplants of medicinal, food and industrial crops	National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Thailand(BIOTEC), Thailand
Dr. Jonathan Hosier Crouch(39)	Molecular breeding of main world staples with more recent emphasis on drought-prone environments	International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center(CIMMYT), Mexico

• Outline of Research Achivement(PDF : 114KB)

Japan International Award for Young Agricultural Researchers (JIRCAS)

Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS) Website