1. Maximizing Genetics Potential of Crops
relevant to Vietnam and Japan and
Training Future Scientists
Le Tien Dung, PhD (dunglt.agi@mard.gov.vn)
Agricultural Genetics Institute (AGI)
Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Science (VAAS)
THE 4TH MEETING OF VIETNAM – JAPAN JOINT COMMITTEE ON
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION

2. - Produce [and export] raw materials, mostly
- Value-added technology is lacking, and
- R & D capacity is weak
Collaborating with science-advanced
countries to solve local and global issues while
upgrading our manpower.
SOLUTION
CHALLENGES

3. 1. Establishing systems in which Japan and its
counterparts can enjoy mutual benefits,
2. Generating synergy between S&T and
diplomacy for resolving the global issues
facing mankind,
3. Developing “human resources” that sustain
S&T diplomacy, and
4. Increasing Japan’s international presence.
Sunami et al., (2013) The Rise of Science and Technology Diplomacy
in Japan. Science & Diplomacy, Vol. 2, No. 1
Cyberdyne Co.
JAPAN – A LEADER IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

4. VISITORS
EXCHANGE
JOINT PhD
PROGRAM
JOINT LAB
JOINT
PROJECTS
A story of collaborative research and training
between AGI and RIKEN CSRS

5. Energy
up 50%
(IEA)
Water
up 30%
(IFPRI)
Food
up 50%
(FAO)
Climate
change
WATER REQUIREMENTS TO
PRODUCE CROPS (liters/kg)
1. Paddy rice: ~1700
2. Maize: ~1300
3. Soybean: ~2200
4. Cassava: ~600!
(Mekonnen and Hoekstra (2011) Hydrol.
Earth Syst. Sci., 15, 1577–1600) (cited >200
times)
WATER FOOTPRINTS
WHAT HAPPEN IN 2030?

7. TARGETED FUNDING SOURCES FOR THE JOINT LAB

8. EXAMPLE OF JOINT PROJECTS AT ILCMB
On-the-Job Research Capacity Building for Food Security
and Environmental Conservation in Developing Countries
•2014: Development of common cassava descriptors in ASEAN
countries for cassava seed systems
•2013: Molecular certification for establishment of disease free-
cassava materials in cassava seed systems
Development and dissemination of sustainable
production system based on invasive pest management
of cassava, a strategic crop in the Greater Mekong
Subregion
• Countries jointly applied:
Advancement of Asian Cassava Molecular Breeding by
Cutting-edge Technologies
•Countries involved:

9. Advancement of Asian Cassava Molecular Breeding by
Cutting-edge Technologies
Mutational breeding using
heavy-ion beam irradiation
Cassava functional
genomics
Transformation of useful genes
into Asian elite cultivars

10. “On-the-Job Research Capacity Building for Food Security
and Environmental Conservation in Developing Countries”
2011: Cassava seed system through in vitro propagation to
provide disease-free planting materials to farmers in SEA.
2012: Preserving locally adapted cassava varieties from pest
and disease in SEA by creating an in vitro germplasm collection.
2013: Molecular certification for establishment of disease free-
cassava materials in cassava seed systems
2014: Development of common cassava descriptors in ASEAN
countries for cassava seed systems
Trained a total of more than 30 researchers from:
CASSAVA SEED SYSTEM
Instructor:
Dr. Manabu Ishitani (CIAT)
Assistant Instructors:
Dr. Le Tien Dung (AGI)
Dr. Kris Wyckhuys (CIAT)

11. Subtheme 1
Identification of
cassava pest and
disease and
development of
monitoring system in
ASEAN
Subtheme 2
Establishment of
integrated cassava
pest management
Subtheme 3
Establishment of
cassava seed system
Provisional/evaluation
on-going
GDA/
MAFF
Leader: Le Huy Ham (PhD)
Manager: Le Tien Dung (PhD)Leader: Keiji Takasu (PhD)
Subtheme 4
Establishment and
dissemination of
sustainable cassava
production system
DEVELOPMENT AND DISSEMINATION OF SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION
SYSTEM BASED ON INVASIVE PEST MANAGEMENT OF CASSAVA, A
STRATEGIC CROP IN THE GREATER MEKONG SUBREGION

12. BLAST RESEARCH NETWORK FOR STABLE RICE PRODUCTION
A subproject of: “Rice innovation for environmentally sustainable
production systems”, 2012-2015
Nguyen Thi Minh
Nguyet (MSc)
Yoshimichi
Fukuta (PhD)
• Collection and pathological evaluation of blast isolates and clarification of
diversity of blast in Northern provinces of Vietnam.
• Genetic study of rice germplasm for blast resistance in Vietnam using
molecular marker.
• Sharing the information with JIRCAS and collaborative institutes under the
JIRCAS research network
(56)
(47) (148)
(53)

13. Signing MOU to join
RIKEN IPA Program
AGI joint RIKEN IPA to train staffs who enroll
as PhD students at VAAS
Roles of transcription factors and strigolactone
in plant stress response
•2012 - 2015
•Ha Van Chien
Loss of 5’-3’ exoribonuclease AtXRN4 function
enhances tolerance of plants to heat stress
• 2012 - 2015
•Nguyen Hai Anh
Hormonal crosstalk and transcription factors in
plant responses to environmental stress
• 2015 - 2018
•Nguyen Huu Kien
Current PhD candidates

14. Establishment of Transformation System in Asian Cassava Elite
Cultivars
• Vu The Ha
• PhD candidate, 2014 – 2017, Funded by e-ASIA/MEXT
Functional Analysis of Histone Acetylation in Plant Abiotic
Stress Responses
• Nguyen Mai Huong
•Master student, 2013 – 2015, funded by MEXT
Practical training on transformation into cassava model variety
TMS60444
•Vu Anh Thu
•Technician, one-month visit, Oct, 2014, funded by MOST
Practical training on in vitro propagation and Friable Embryo
Callus induction of cassava model variety TMS60444
•Le Thi Thuy
•Technician, 3 months, Mar, 2012, funded by RIKEN Plant Science Center
Gene discovery for abiotic-stress tolerance engineering of
soybean plant
•Le Tien Dung (Ph.D.)
•Postdoc, 4/2010-4/2013, RIKEN Program for Junior Scientist (FPR)
AGI researchers who were/are being trained at
RIKEN other than IPA

15. Exchange of visitors
Vietnam -> Japan
- Technicians
- Scientists
- Director General (AGI)
- Deputy Prime Minister
Japan -> Vietnam
- Technicians
- Scientists
- Team Leader
- Executive Director (RIKEN)

16. Dr. Trinh Khac Quang
VAAS President
Mr. Atsuki Tomoyose
First Secretary, Japan Embassy
Joint International Symposium
Well-known speakers from Japan and Vietnam

17. Recommendations & Requests
The Joint Lab, although new, has been highly effective, however, to
fully explore the potentials of both sides, we would like to recommend
the followings:
- Make available core funding from both sides for the Joint Lab to
attract and retain talents; as of now, all funds are project-based.
- Make available funding from Japanese side to support/increase
the presence of Japanese scientists and high skill technicians at
the Joint Lab.
The Joint Lab is newly established; this mode of collaboration is also
new to parties involved, thus, strategic supports in forms of policy,
finance, and political wills are kindly requested from both sides.
The Joint Lab will focus on maximizing crop genetics potential using
advanced science developed by Japan in collaboration with
Vietnam to benefit the two countries, and the world. Support is
requested for the Joint Lab to extend to other crops beside cassava.

18. XIN CÁM ƠN ありがとう