This paper intends to examine how the environment has changed in international agricultural cooperation from the viewpoint of the international food system theory. Subsequently the “knowledge creation theory”, which has made significant progress in the field of economics, and the life cycle theory are integrated based on the theoretical foundation in industrial cluster theory to explore the possibilities and issues in knowledge creation (including development of human resources) in international cooperation in agriculture. It concluded that the significance of international agricultural cooperation lies in the creation of new knowledge by each researcher and institution through cooperation, and the significance of that cooperation becomes evident when agricultural issues are solved through innovation as a result of knowledge creation. Furthermore, if international cooperation in agriculture aspires to attain the situation where relevant entities such as universities and research institutions cooperate and compete globally, then an innovation induction principle in global “industrial clusters” which bear a similar relationship, or the knowledge creation framework based on the principle of international cooperation supremacy, will be effective. Hence this paper would like to look at the direction of research in international agricultural cooperation as an issue of “knowledge governance” in addition to knowledge supply in knowledge creation.

Agricultural and rural development is a indispensable components to achieve MDGs. Agricultural and life sciences including environmental studies are expected to contribute to this development. However, development researches have been carried out mainly among economics, political sciences and sociology and therefore development policies and strategies are formulated by specialists with such backgrounds. Without agricultural scientists knowing such system, it is extremely difficult for them to apply their research findings to actual development process. Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University runs program of rural and regional development specialized in issue oriented problem solving education, in parallel with other programs such as economics, sociology and education within the school. Students with BSc and MSc degree can study in this program for higher degrees. Not only this kind of social science based program but also science based program with special input on international development literacy are expected to be enhanced for better contribution of agricultural and life science, which is one of the strong research areas of Japan, to the real context of development.

Lao People’s Democratic Republic is land locked country located on the center of Indochina peninsula. Laotian people easy to obtain the fishery commodities from rivers. Fresh water fishes are Laotian’s primary animal protein source. For the purpose of this study, information on the current status of the daily diet of the non-heated freshwater fish cuisine. There are two types of unheated cooking, one is nonthermal processed cooking to enjoy raw texture and taste. On the other hand, people developed cooking for preservative food. However, Marine fish is new cooking ingredient for Laotian People who like to eat fresh water fish more than marine fish. Freshwater fish is in tune with consumer tastes. However marine fish will be achieved the considerable market position of main protein resource through the low price. This price is the cheapest compare to the other main animal protein source such as beef, pork, and chicken. Now a day freshwater fish became expensive foodstuff year by year. Based on social and lifestyle changes in the 21st century, Laotian people will create new unheated food culture.

Intellectual resources and needs of universities and/or research institutions regarding agricultural sciences both in Japan and developing countries, respectively, were surveyed through internet by using a questionnaire. The data were analyzed to show the present situation of resources in Japan and the matching between resources and needs. The respondents were asked to select keywords related to their intellectual resources or needs. The interrelationship among keywords which were selected on the questionnaire and factors determining the position of each keyword on a two-dimensional map were analyzed using quantification method of the third type. A map of cognitive space of related keywords was constructed, which have 1st axis indicating the degree of association with crop farming, and 2nd axis separating laboratory-based activities from field-based activities. The results of matching analysis of resources and needs indicated that a compatible combination of resource and need spread across a wide range of fields. While Japan is rich in resources highly related to laboratory-based activities, there were not many needs for assistance in developing countries which could be matched with these resources. The efficiency of project formulation concerning international cooperation could be improved by applying the matching analysis of intellectual resources and needs. In order to intensify Japan’s international intellectual contributions, development of a system to promote identification of intellectual resources and development of their usages as well as human resources who can actually be engaged in intellectual contributions are important.

The purposes of international cooperation of Faculty of Agriculture, Yamagata University are to educate Japanese students with a broad outlook on international view point and to train foreign students as graduate students or as trainees of special course. For Japanese students, there are some lectures, e.g. presentation in English and deepen understanding of developing countries, and some programs, e.g. visiting foreign countries as a summer school. Foreign students or foreign trainees affect Japanese students who have little interest in international cooperation. They raise awareness about international cooperation through exchange between foreign and Japanese students daily life. However, we have little history about international cooperation, definite results are not clear yet. To achieve brilliant successes, these programs should be carried out continuously.

“A Plan for 300,000 Exchange Students” was announced as a part of the global strategy to make Japanese competitiveness by getting excellent students from the whole world to study and live in Japan. This program is supported by the collaboration of six Ministries of Japan government. At the same time, the globalization in the higher education shows rapid development. However, it is thought that the international exchange activities and research collaboration of the university used to depend on the effort of the researcher individual until now. When the globalization is unavoidable in various fields and certain correspondence is demanded to meet the requirement, it is necessary to form the core and talented personnel systematically in each institution for the expansion and activation of international activities. We offer students and young scientists opportunities to promote international activities mentioned above with higher motivation. In addition, we work on a global issue organizationally and offer students opportunities of international programs based on the research activities for their career-up in the foreign countries.

Zambia is a landlocked country in south central Africa. The University of Zambia, located in the capital city Lusaka, was established in 1966. The School of Veterinary Medicine was established in 1983 to increase the availability of veterinary service in Zambia. In response to a request from the government of Zambia, the government of Japan helped build and equip the School of Veterinary Medicine at the Lusaka Campus beginning in 1982. In 1982, there were only 70 veterinarians in the entire country, of whom 8 were Zambian nationals. Since the first graduates left the School of Veterinary Medicine in 1988, the number of veterinarians in the country has grown accordingly. At present, the school has graduated about 350 Zambian veterinarians, and they are contributing greatly to improvements in animal health, public health and livestock production in Zambia. For the 15-year history of this project, success has been built upon a number of professional and personal exchanges between Zambia and Japan. The personal exchanges and technical cooperation of this project are contributing to both human resource and economic development in both Zambia and Japan.

International cooperation activities conducted by universities have been considered social contributions rather than research and education, which are the primary functions of universities. In this study, two international cooperation activities were conducted using the action research method, which aims to solve existing issues in the real world, and the potential of international cooperation activities as playing roles of research, education, and capacity building in universities was examined. A project team consisting of Nagoya University and Royal University of Agriculture Cambodia (RUA) focused on two issues: the deficit operation of rice liquor producers in Cambodia and the education system of RUA, which includes almost no practical training. Consequently, both issues have improved and all activities conducted by the project team have functioned as research, education, and capacity building for students and lecturers. Therefore, the results indicated that international cooperation activities could play these roles. Setting up a new study area to accumulate the results of practical study and valuable experience in the field will lead to research on international cooperation in the agricultural sector, a topic prioritized in most developing countries and engaged in by many professors.

Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University was reorganized as center-of-excellence in the fields of Plant Genetic Resources and Plant Stress Science on 1st April, 2010. The history of our institute from private agricultural institute, named “Ohara Institute for Agricultural Research” founded by Ohara Magosaburo, entrepreneur in Kurashiki in 1914 is summarized and the outline for promotion of the international collaboration for utilizing the research results of the research institute globally is introduced. Particularly, “Establishment of crop stress science network for increase of food production in Eastern Africa” in “Asia Africa Science Platform Program” of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science was started since 2010 and the international exchange program between Okayama Universtity and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Kenya has been conducted. The exchange program has been promoted for “Development and application of the next generation crops in the Eastern Africa” by using many useful genetic resources and crops, cultivation technology, and remarkable research activities for stress responses of crops which the Institute and Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University has been achieved.