Project Details

Connect rubber-producing countries and consuming countries through early-stage measures against rubber tree leaf fall diseases
Infection of rubber leaf fall diseases has been widely spread in Southeast Asian countries and causes serious damage to rubber production. Through cooperation with Indonesian Rubber Research Institute and Universitas Indonesia, we aim to exterminate the disease by chemical and microbial pesticides, establish a genome-assisted breeding technology, and detect infected areas in the early stages by using images from satellites and drones, and prevent leaf blight and control the spread of infections. Through this link between Japan and a resource-producing country, we will also produce research leaders who can contribute to breeding that takes advantage of modern science and technology as well as local resources.

Enabling stable supply of natural rubber that meets growing global demand
Southeast Asia supplies more than 90 percent of the world’s natural rubber. Because Southeast Asian rubber trees are reproduced by clonal propagation, they end up being infected with the same diseases. By sharing the technology we develop with countries that produce natural rubber, the project will contribute to realizing stable supplies of natural rubber that meet the world's demand and stable livelihoods for rubber farmers.