NARO, Japanese company sign deal to boost agricultural innovation and climate resilience
Ac-Planta, a Tokyo based producer renowned for its pioneering work in bio-stimulants that help plants withstand drought, heat, and salinity, envisions a future where communities around the world enjoy clean water, fresh air, and abundant healthy food
ENTEBBE, September 23, 2025 —The National Agricultural Research Organisation [ NARO ] has entered a landmark partnership with a Japanese partner Ac-Planta Inc., an agri-bio-venture company, to strengthen collaboration in agricultural research, innovation, technology transfer, and enterprise development.
Ac-Planta, a Tokyo based producer renowned for its pioneering work in bio-stimulants that help plants withstand drought, heat, and salinity, envisions a future where communities around the world enjoy clean water, fresh air, and abundant healthy food.
The company seeks to translate its scientific breakthroughs into tangible solutions for Uganda’s agricultural sector and beyond.
The partnership establishes a broad framework for cooperation aimed at improving livelihoods, supporting industrialisation, and contributing to sustainable global development.
Details in the MoU indicate that the two principals will jointly undertake priority research in crops, forestry, biotechnology, climate-smart agriculture, and agro-industrial technologies.
The will also exploring new innovations such as digital extension, precision farming, and circular-bioeconomy solutions as well as translating technologies into community-ready toolkits and industrial prototypes, to enhance skills and knowledge transfer, while creating opportunities for enterprise incubation and commercialization along agricultural value chains.
Human capacity development stands out as strong for both parties committing to training programs that advance agricultural sciences, engineering, agri-business, and pharma-bio technology.
These will include specialised short-term courses, non-degree programs, and the establishment of technology and skills development centers to benefit farmers and communities across Uganda.
Additionally, this provides for joint initiatives in extension services, exhibitions, farm clinics, and policy advocacy to enhance acceleration in adoption of innovations and strengthening Uganda’s agricultural systems.
Speaking at the signing event at NARO headquarters in Entebbe yesterday, NARO Director General Dr. Yona Baguma described the agreement as a milestone in leveraging global plant science to address the challenges of climate change and food security.
“This partnership fits very well into our focus on promoting agriculture that is resilient to climate change, as experienced in the current times,” he said.
The Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Ac-Planta Inc., Prof. Jong-Myong Kim, who signed the agreement on behalf of his company, expressed optimism about the collaboration.
“Our vision is to contribute to a world of sustainable abundance through plant science. Partnering with NARO allows us to translate our research into practical solutions for communities in Uganda and across the world,” he said.
The event was also attended by the Japanese Ambassador to Uganda, Takuya Sasayama, who noted that the effects of climate change are now a global concern that requires urgent remedies.
He cited record temperatures and other extreme weather events being registered in Japan as evidence of this crisis and pledged stronger cooperation with Uganda to address local climate change impacts.
The Chairperson of the NARO Governing Council, Dr. William Olaho-Mukani, observed that conditions in Japan and Uganda were similar and commended the development of technologies to mitigate these effects, as well as the projected transfer of technologies from Japan to Uganda.
An accomplished scientist himself, Dr. Olaho-Mukani underscored the role of international partnerships in harnessing science, technology, and innovation to build climate-resilient, productive, and sustainable agricultural systems.
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