[ Purpose ]

The Japanese Society of Root and Tuber Crops was established in March 21, 1997, for the purpose of supporting free and thorough information exchange among those enthusiastic about "root and storage root crops" such as sweetpotatoes and potatoes.

[ Concepts ]

1. To encourage reappraisal of the importance of "root and storage root crops" in light of current food supply/demand trends worldwide.
2. To form a distribution channel for providing delicious, safe and healthy products, through cooperation among producers, distributors and users.
3. In conjunction with the above, to construct a network in which consumers, chain restaurants, food processors, marketers, producers, and researchers can cooperate with one another and exchange opinions freely.

[Targets for JRT activity]

Information disclosure and public education

• Establishing and managing a high-speed information system utilizing the Internet, etc.
• Creating awareness for new varieties among users such as restaurants, food processing companies and producers
• Creating "potato fans" through cultivation tests on new varieties, through sources including schools and households

Support for research, development and international cooperation

• Strengthening cooperation among Japanese researchers, technical experts, and those charged with expanding the "root and storage root crops" market
• Providing a platform for research meetings (e.g., on techniques for taste evaluation by component analyses, breeding, seed/sprout proliferation technology, countermeasures against difficult-to-control diseases and insect pests)
• Improving cooperation with international organizations and academic societies (e.g., by hosting international research meetings on tropical storage root crops)

Streamlining of seed/sprout supply

• Developing a system enabling seeds and sprouts for newly announced varieties to be quickly released
• Developing and demonstrating efficient and inexpensive seed/sprout proliferation techniques
• Opening seed/sprout distribution routes

Recovery of supply and demand balance

• Encouraging producers to respond to demand trends, e.g., by switching from "root and storage root crops" for starch-related products to those for processed foods
• Creating new demand through publicity concerning new varieties and development of new products
• Providing "safe, healthy, and delicious" products in response to user concerns about health and the environment
• Reducing costs by introducing new distribution systems directly linking farms and users

[ Primary activities ]

• Managing a JRT web site on the Internet, and developing a sweetpotato information network. (To access JRT on the Net: "http://www.jrt.gr.jp/").
• Hosting potato and sweetpotato e-mail mailing lists for exchange of information.
• Publishing a regular FAX newsletter.
• Publishing updated versions of two books: "Mini White Paper: Potatoes in Japan" and "Mini White Paper: Sweetpotatoes in Japan."
• Promoting test growing by the public of new potato/sweetpotato varieties, and of unique traditional varieties.
• Hosting a research meeting on quality evaluation techniques.
• Hosting a "Potato/Sweetpotato Summit" to promote increased consumption.
• Holding a study meeting on growth techniques utilizing microtubers.

[Membership fee]

• Membership is of two types: ordinary (individuals) and supporting (corporations).
• Activities are generally nontechnical so even nonspecialist members may participate.
• Membership is 2,000 yen for individuals, and 20,000 yen for corporations. (The JRT year runs from April to March of the following year.)

[How to join]

To join JRT, please send your name, occupation, position, address, telephone/FAX numbers, and e-mail address to the address below. Membership fee may be wired to JRT via the Post Office or bank. More information is available on the JRT web site:

<Japanese Society of Root and Tuber Crops, Tsukuba Office> Office Managers: Messrs. Santo and Ishikawa c/o Agricultural Information Usage Laboratory 143-3 Onozaki, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki Prefecture 305-0034 [TEL] (0298)56-8708, [FAX] (0298)56-0024

<Inquiries by E-mail>

Mr. Yano: tetsuo.yano@nifty.ne.jp

Mr. Nakae: nakae@jsai.or.jp

[ Directors ]