Workshop of IPB and Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST), Japan
In the framework of research cooperation, Research Center for Biological Resources and Biotechnology IPB (Indonesia), Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST, Japan), University of Ryukyus (Japan), and Plant High-Tech Institute Ltd. (Phit, Japan), held a workshop for the internal progress report of research entitled "Molecular breeding of high-yield energy plants and Reforestation" at Hotel Salak on Wednesday, January 5, 2011. This research is funded by the Japan Science and Technology (JST) in the context of Asia and Africa Science and Technology Promotion Program, under the Ministry of Education, Youth, Sports and Technology (MEXT, Japan) from 2008 until 2011. One partner in the research, namely the Department of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Republic of Botswana, was unable to attend the workshop. The workshop focused on the topic: "Molecular Breeding of Jatropha curcas" was attended by researchers from PPSHB IPB, Officers of the Clean Development Management Consulting, JST Officers, and researchers from RIKEN Japan, and Kasetsart University, Thailand, with the total of 20 participants.
The workshop was opened by the project leader, Prof. Akiho Yokota of NAIST, and continued with the discussions of Project 1: Improvement of Jatropha Productivity by Genetic Engineering by Dr. Kinya Akashi (NAIST) and Practical Comparison of Genetic Engineering Methods of Jatropha Plant
by Dr. M. Kajikawa (NAIST); Project 2: Enhancement of photosynthesis by Chloroplast Transformation by Dr. K. Tomizawa (Phit); and Project 3: Field Evaluation of the Productivity of Genetic Manipulated Jatropha by Prof. Y. Kawamitu (Univ. Ryukyus); Hyper Application of Jatropha Jatropha Biomass for Field Amendment by Prof. M. Ueno (Univ. Ryukyus); Jatropha School by W. Jaiphong (Kasetsart University).
In the workshop, the JST officer views that this study has been running very well with satisfactory results. As this study will end in October 2011, he suggested further research with other funding schemes. In the discussion, Head of PPSHB IPB, Dr. Suharsono, proposed a specific funding scheme to complement the laboratory equipment in IPB, especially in PPSHB. Given the results of studies so far obtained, this consortium will invite other researchers from RIKEN and private parties such as PT Jedo, which is engaged in Jatropha plantation in Indonesia, to develop a research proposal to be submitted to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI, Japan). This research is expected to obtain high yielding varieties of Jatropha for the industrial application in Indonesia. The basic research for the engineering of superior Jatropha through molecular breeding will be done at NAIST and PPSHB IPB, while its development and reproduction will be conducted at IPB.
After the workshop, in the following evening there were a welcome dinner and hospitality at Hotel Salak, which was attended by all of the workshop participants, the Vice Rector for Research and Cooperation (Dr. M. Anas Fauzi), and Director of Research and Strategic Studies (Prof. Iskandar Z. Siregar). In the dinner time, other possible cooperation was also discussed informally.
The workshop was followed by a field trip to the Experimental Plantation of Jatropha in Pakuwon, Sukabumi, which is owned by Research Institute of Plantation Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, on Thursday, January 6, 2011. The workshop participants were briefed on the use of equipment for processing jatropha seed into oil fuel. The use of oil fuel derived from Jatropha was also demonstrated with the diesel engine to pump the pool water. With this demonstration, the researchers became more confident to realize Jatropha Jatropha as a greatly potential energy source in the future. The biggest problem of Jatropha utilization as an energy source is its still-low productivity. Therefore, the consortium is concentrating to overcome this problem.
