News
Research activities, presentations, awards and updates from our laboratory.
2026
- Mark and Helen Lieffering visited Obihiro from New Zealand and spoke at our laboratory seminar about agriculture, the environment and greenhouse gas (GHG) research.
- 31 October 2026Our laboratory members gathered for the 2026 group photograph.
- 28 September – 4 October 2026Kensuke Kawamura, Misato Itoh (M2) and Nene Shibusawa (B4) visited Vietnam as part of a joint research project with JIRCAS. They conducted fieldwork in rice-growing and inundated areas and exchanged information with local research institutions.
- Misato Itoh presented at HSFC DEMO DAY 2026.
At New Otani Inn Sapporo, she presented a method for on-site forage and soil diagnostics using portable spectroscopy and AI. She also outlined a plan to help dairy farmers make decisions about harvesting, feeding and fertilization using estimates of forage composition and soil properties.
HSFC event report (Japanese) ↗ | Related feature (GAP Fund Research Seeds Collection)
- Misato Itoh’s research is featured in HSFC’s 2025 GAP Fund Research Seeds Collection.
The project, “On-site forage and soil diagnostics using portable spectroscopy and AI,” was selected in the agri-food category under STEP 1 (Zebra track). It uses portable spectroscopy and AI to estimate forage nutrient composition and soil properties in the field.
Misato Itoh’s project profile (PDF, Japanese) ↗ | HSFC’s list of selected projects (Japanese) ↗
- 26–28 August 2026Kensuke Kawamura attended the 9th Korea-China-Japan Grassland Conference in Jeju, Korea, with Professor Masaaki Hanada, formerly of the Animal Production Course, and delivered an invited lecture. Professor Hanada wore a cow costume to introduce the next conference, to be held in Japan.
- 18 August 2026The university reported Misato Itoh’s (M2) Encouragement Award for her NINEJP researcher pitch at SusHi Tech Tokyo 2026 (27–29 April).
- Pasture Japan, a startup company originating from Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, was established and registered on 24 April 2026. Please visit the company website for details.
- 27 March 2026Kasumi Kakiuchi (M1) and Mio Ogata (B4) gave oral presentations at the 2026 Japanese Society of Grassland Science meeting in Shimane. Kasumi received an outstanding young presenter award.
- 19 March 2026Mio Ogata, Saori Hara, Miyu Matsunaga and Haruka Yokoi graduated at the university’s graduation ceremony.
2025
- 6–7 December 2025Mio Ogata, Saori Hara and Haruka Yokoi presented posters at the 14th Hokkaido Livestock and Grassland Science Society meeting. Kensuke Kawamura and Kasumi Kakiuchi (M1) gave symposium presentations.
- 18–19 October 2025Miyu Matsunaga (B4) and Kensuke Kawamura gave oral presentations at the 2025 Japanese Agricultural Systems Society meeting.
- 2–6 June 2025Kensuke Kawamura and Misato Itoh (M1) presented posters at the International Rangeland Congress 2025 in Adelaide, Australia.
- 18 April 2025Misato Itoh (M1) was awarded a Sasakawa Scientific Research Grant for 2025.
- 21 March 2025Qinggeer and Kasumi Kakiuchi participated online in the Hokkaido Branch meeting of the Japan Society of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing. Kasumi received an outstanding presentation award.
- 19 March 2025Shoji Okoshi, Misato Itoh, Minoho Ohno, Kasumi Kakiuchi and Uta Kamiya graduated.
2024
- 7–8 December 2024Shoji Okoshi, Misato Itoh and Uta Kamiya presented posters at the Hokkaido Livestock and Grassland Science Society meeting.
- 1–2 November 2024Misato Itoh and Minoho Ohno presented their research at the Japanese Agricultural Systems Society meeting.
- 1 October 2024Four third-year undergraduate students joined our laboratory.
- 26–28 September 2024Kasumi Kakiuchi presented research at the 2024 Japanese Society of Grassland Science meeting in Obihiro.
- 22–27 May 2024Laboratory members conducted meadow field surveys in Sapporo and Ebetsu.
- 11–14 May 2024Laboratory members visited Mongolia through the M-JEED programme.