Introduction

The project aims to foster talent that can usher an age of non-petroleum-dependent food production, free from the "global crisis in which the majority of food production is dependent on petroleum energy."

The majority of the world′s food is produced through the use of petroleum energy. Currently, food production for supporting at least five billion people relies on petroleum. This clearly indicates that our finite planet has a high-density population, and food production for around seven billion people cannot possibly be achieved through natural farming alone. In other words, for humankind to have a sustainable global environment while living a life that is physically and mentally satisfying, we must face the eventual challenge of ′food′ on a global scale, which is the source of life, and make radical changes in our food production and energy dependency. To bring about the second green revolution, we require leaders who have a good understanding of the basic technologies of agriculture and engineering as well as the inextricable relationship among food, the environment, and energy and have a passion to tackle the ultimate challenge: human survival. Based on an awareness of these issues, the university aims to train international leaders equipped with the conceptual and practical abilities. To achieve this goal, the university has introduced the ′Practical Science Degree Program′ and is providing systematic instruction to help its trainees achieve the following objectives:

  • As highly practical researchers, they will be able to understand the inextricable relationship among food, the environment, and energy and have a passion for tackling the ultimate challenge of human survival.
  • They will be able to build and lead teams of experts from a broad range of fields across multiple disciplines and possess the communication skills to enable them to play an active role in the international community.
  • They will possess a strong determination to tackle problems, implement solutions, and accomplish goals that they have identified through critical thought and analysis.

The graduate courses in the Practical Science Degree Program develop "open innovation for green, clean food production" in collaboration with top universities around the world. Once the period of support ends, the program will continue to develop and expand through its own budgeting and a framework of external funding based on its performance. The degree program will become a top-notch human resource training center to equip people for the real world, with world-class research projects, international collaboration, and coordination among industry, academia, and government as the keys to training superior problem solvers who can address critical issues concerning food production and other related areas.

Specialized field: Practical Science; Degree: PhD (Practical Science, Agriculture, or Engineering)

The number of degrees conferred through the degree program will be 20 per year.

After enrolling in the graduate program, students will be supervised in their research by three faculty members through a system of laboratory rotation.

To improve human resource skills, the core subjects will focus on the humanities and social sciences and verbal expression.

The social science courses are based on a system that enables students to do practical internships at companies and study overseas (long-term overseas deployment); this leadership training equips students with practical skills.

Through the specialized instruction of the leadership training program that is provided by leading faculty members from Japan and overseas, as well as by passionate teaching staff from within the university, who share the same educational philosophy and have been selected through a rigorous screening process, the program will have a significant impact on the other graduate schools at the university.

A panel of at least five faculty members and members of an external review committee will carry out degree reviews. This system enables a rigorous, objective assessment of the extent to which the students meet the study and research targets. Students take prescribed courses and write a doctoral dissertation. Evaluation of the practical classes and the process leading up to writing the dissertation involves an overall assessment that focuses on (1) creativity, (2) potential, and (3) practicality.