Research
Grassland conservation and sustainable use: connecting plants, soils, grazing animals and their environment.
Information checked: 1 November 2026
Projects are grouped by their published research periods. Fiscal years (FY) run from April to March of the following year.
Current research projects
April 2026 – March 2029
Advancing Spatial Information for Pastures and Livestock to Improve Grazing Management in Smart Agriculture
We integrate satellite and UAV observations with cattle GPS collar data to map pasture resources and livestock use. Evaluating the balance between forage availability and grazing pressure will support sustainable grazing management and lower environmental impacts.
Co-investigators: Masato Yayota (Gifu University), Taisuke Yasuda (Mount Fuji Research Institute) and Miya Kitagawa (NARO).
October 2025 – March 2035
Building a Tokachi food system: creating value by linking agriculture, livestock production and food processing
Kawamura participates as a collaborating researcher in a regional initiative linking agriculture, livestock production and food processing to create value across the Tokachi food system.
FY 2023–2026
Bioengineering in the genetic capacity of Mongolian Livestock
An international collaboration on Mongolian livestock involving the Mongolian University of Life Sciences and partner universities in Japan.
Participating institutions: MULS, Obihiro University, Okayama University and Okayama University of Science.
Research perspectives
Our field-based research combines vegetation surveys with remote sensing, animal behaviour monitoring, spectroscopy, statistics and modelling.
Understanding grassland ecosystems
We study vegetation, forage biomass and animal behaviour across space and time.
Conserving grassland diversity
Field surveys and monitoring help us assess grassland condition and consider conservation.
Using grasslands sustainably
We investigate grazing and mowing systems that maintain production while accounting for environmental impacts.
Recent projects
Projects whose published research periods have ended.
FY 2025
Developing aboveground biomass estimation methods for acacia plantations
Collaborative research to develop methods for estimating aboveground biomass in acacia plantations.
FY 2025
Evaluating forage crop characteristics in the Tokachi region
Collaborative evaluation of forage crop characteristics in the Tokachi region.
FY 2023–2025
Satellite-based vegetation classification for large grassland areas
We investigated scaling UAV-based vegetation classification to satellite observations for regional assessment of meadow vegetation in Hokkaido.
FY 2023–2025
Developing and demonstrating high-quality forage production and use
The project examined orchardgrass and alfalfa-based systems to improve forage value and the use of home-grown feed.
Participating institutions: Rakuno Gakuen University, Obihiro University and NARO Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center.
FY 2022–2025 (April 2022 – March 2026)
Understanding and controlling cattle dung distribution to improve pasture productivity and reduce environmental impact
We investigated UAV-based dung detection and relationships among animal behaviour, environmental conditions and dung distribution to support productive, environmentally sound grazing.
Project 23K23735 continues the same research previously numbered 22H02470; the records are shown as one project.
April 2022 – March 2026
Assessing stress tolerance of black rice H50 using chlorophyll fluorescence
We contributed to research evaluating environmental stress responses and tolerance of black rice H50 using chlorophyll fluorescence.
Earlier research projects
View 13 earlier research projects
FY 2022
Monitoring grassland resources and environments using small general-purpose UAVs
Grassland resource and environmental monitoring using small general-purpose UAVs.
October 2019 – March 2023
Phosphorus acquisition by rice AZ-97 in phosphorus-deficient soils in Madagascar
We participated in international research on phosphorus acquisition by rice line AZ-97 in phosphorus-deficient soils in Madagascar.
April 2018 – March 2023
Image-based assessment of rice grain quality and market value in Lao PDR
We quantified rice grain appearance using image analysis and examined its relationship with market value in Lao PDR.
2016–2022
Integrating soil fertility sensing and nutrient-deficiency-tolerant rice lines to improve nutrient use efficiency in Africa
We contributed to research integrating soil fertility sensing with nutrient-deficiency-tolerant rice lines to improve rice production in Madagascar.
2015–2016
Monitoring flood extent in Southeast Asia using MODIS satellite imagery
Monitoring spatial and temporal variation in flood extent in Southeast Asia using MODIS satellite imagery.
April 2014 – March 2018
Phytanic acid, nutrient metabolism and product quality in ruminants
Collaborative research on phytanic acid derived from forage chlorophyll and its relationships with ruminant metabolism and products.
April 2014 – March 2018
Biodiversity conservation and livestock production in East Asia: Japan–Korea collaboration
Japan–Korea collaboration examining relationships between vegetation biodiversity, livestock productivity and animal health in East Asia.
April 2014 – March 2016
UAV-mounted hyperspectral sensing for precision grazing management
Development of UAV-mounted hyperspectral methods for assessing spatial variation in forage biomass and composition.
April 2013 – March 2016
Examining whether overgrazing drives grassland degradation in Inner Mongolia
Research examining links between overgrazing, vegetation change and grassland degradation in Inner Mongolia.
FY 2011–2012
Low-altitude remote sensing for precision grazing management
Development of low-altitude imaging and spectral methods to assess spatial variation in forage biomass and nutritive value.
FY 2011–2012
Japan–New Zealand collaboration for sustainable grazing management
Japanese and New Zealand research groups combined monitoring methods and expertise to investigate sustainable grazing management.
FY 2009–2011
Vegetation recovery and livestock management in degraded Inner Mongolian grasslands
Collaborative research on vegetation recovery and improved pastoral management in desertified and degraded grasslands in Inner Mongolia, China.
FY 2009–2010
Hyperspectral remote sensing for pasture quality assessment
Research on estimating forage biomass and composition using field hyperspectral measurements for pasture quality assessment.
Sources and related information
- Research projects on researchmap ↗
- Kawamura’s research funding record ↗
- J-GLOBAL: researchmap-based project records ↗
- KAKEN researcher profile ↗
KAKEN project numbers, research periods and roles were checked against official project records. The cattle dung project is presented once, combining the records before and after its transfer to a multi-year fund.