[iichie Memo] October 19 - October 25, 2025
Living in the Modern Age: Questioning the Dignity of 'Life' and Responsibility for the Future through the Latest Trends in Environment, Agriculture, and Life Sciences
Hello everyone, nice to meet you. I am Ichigo Ichie.
In this 'iichie memo,' I use my research notes to deepen my reflections on 'life,' 'agriculture,' and the 'environment' as seen through daily news and cutting-edge science and technology. The foundation of this exploration is the insight into the 'dignity of life' and 'responsibility for creation' nurtured by Christian thought.
*While some articles may overlap with previous content, I am considering changing from weekly to bi-weekly or monthly posts in the future.
1. Environment: International Climate Change Measures and the Challenges of Companies and Local Governments
The global environment continues to have a direct impact on our lives and economic activities. This past week, various approaches to climate change measures taken by the international community and specific decarbonization challenges by companies and local governments were reported.
Inequality Caused by Climate Change and International Cooperation
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) released a new Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (GMPI) report on October 17, revealing that nearly 80% of the world's poor live in areas exposed to climate hazards such as floods, heatwaves, and droughts. This highlights the reality that climate change is exacerbating social inequality. Additionally, the 'Climate Finance Shadow Report 2025,' published by Oxfam and the international NGO CARE, points out many issues with international climate finance for low-income countries, revealing a situation that results in low-income countries bearing heavy debt. On the occasion of UN Day on October 23, UN Secretary-General Guterres appealed for the importance of international cooperation in the face of challenges such as intensifying conflicts and climate chaos.
Decarbonization and Environmental Contributions by Companies and Local Governments
Renova, Inc. announced that the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry published its judgment on the conformity of the public offering occupancy guidelines for the offshore wind power project planned in Kazamaura Village, Aomori Prefecture, on October 18. This is a significant step forward in the introduction of renewable energy in Japan. On October 19, the South African government announced its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025, setting a goal to shift significantly from coal-centered power to renewable energy, nuclear power, and gas power by 2039, showing that developing countries are also beginning to set concrete goals for decarbonization. The Tokyo Metropolitan Environmental Public Corporation announced that it will launch the 'Zero Food Loss with the Spirit of Edo! Campaign' starting October 24, initiating specific awareness-raising activities aimed at reducing food loss. The Ministry of the Environment announced that it will hold an event at Sanga Stadium by KYOCERA (Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture) on November 9 as part of its campaign to strengthen fire prevention caused by lithium-ion batteries.
◆ To cherish and protect the Earth and all 'life' created by God. This is the essence of 'responsibility for creation' as taught by Christian thought. The inequality caused by climate change shown in the UN report poses a profound ethical question to us. On the other hand, the progress of offshore wind power projects, South Africa's decarbonization goals, and local government food loss reduction campaigns are rays of hope for the future. We bear the responsibility to 'co-create' a truly sustainable future, not only through the power of technology but also based on love for our neighbors and justice, keeping our eyes on those in the most vulnerable positions.
2. Agriculture: Productivity Improvement Opened by AI and Robots and Challenges in Food Systems
Food is the root that nurtures our 'life,' and agriculture, which is responsible for its production, is the foundation of a sustainable society. This past week, while AI and robot technology brought new possibilities to agriculture, deep-seated challenges to food security were highlighted.
Innovation in Agriculture through Smart Technology
AGRIST Inc., which solves agricultural issues with deep tech, won the Grand Award at the 'World AgriFood Innovation Conference 2025 (WAFI 2025)' held in Beijing, China, from October 12 to 15. The solution, which integrates high-precision AI and automatic harvesting robots developed jointly with Microsoft, along with an improvement cycle based on in-house farm data, was highly evaluated, marking global recognition for Japanese smart agriculture technology. In Motoyama Town, Kochi Prefecture, Adinte Co., Ltd. has begun full-scale sales of hydroponic vegetables using IoT technology, with a view to introducing AI-based demand forecasting and overall efficiency in the future. In an article published on October 25, the AI Management Research Institute comprehensively explained smart agriculture, from its definition to key technologies, implementation effects, and challenges, revealing the full picture of agricultural DX through AI, IoT, and robots. A research group at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology clarified the mechanism behind the two-color pattern of Kurakake soybeans in a paper dated October 24. This research, which showed that flavonoids (quercetin), which are plant secondary metabolites, regulate gene expression through RNA interference, is expected to be applied to the regulation of flower and fruit colors and the adjustment of flavonoid and anthocyanin content in vegetables and fruits.
Alarm Bells for Food Security and Policy Challenges
The new book by Nobuhiro Suzuki, a leading expert on food security, titled 'The Reiwa Rice Riots: Why Did the Food Defeat Happen?' (Bunshun Shinsho), was published on October 17. The book points out that structural factors such as the limits of the acreage reduction policy, the exhaustion of farmers, and the failure of agricultural policy are behind the 'Reiwa Rice Riots,' where rice disappeared from supermarkets and recorded the highest retail prices ever, and re-questions the fundamental problems of Japan's food security. In the results of a survey on rice producers' production intentions announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on October 17, while about 30% of respondents said they wanted to 'increase' rice production next year due to high selling prices, many respondents cited difficulties in securing labor and increasing machinery as challenges for 5 or 10 years from now, showing a trend of increasing intentions to 'reduce production' or 'stop.' Keisuke Yamamoto, a member of the House of Councillors elected from Nagasaki District 2, was appointed Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries on October 23, and expressed his ambition to do his utmost to transform primary industries, which support local life and culture as well as food security, into a place of growth. Xinhua News Agency reported on October 23 that in various parts of China, autumn harvesting work has become difficult due to long rains since mid-to-late September, also posing risks to autumn sowing.
◆ Being grateful for the blessings from the earth that nurtures 'life' and supporting its production is the practice of the joy of creation and neighborly love taught by Christian thought. AGRIST's international award, IoT hydroponics in Kochi Prefecture, and basic research on plant coloration point to a future that will greatly improve the efficiency and sustainability of food production. However, the alarm bell for Japan's food security raised by 'The Reiwa Rice Riots' and the concerns of rice producers about the future highlight structural problems that cannot be solved by technology alone. We should not treat food merely as an object of economic activity, but as 'all life is irreplaceable and given by God,' and take responsibility for its stable supply and fair distribution. To fulfill this noble duty, a comprehensive perspective is essential for technology and ethics to join hands and build a more resilient food future.
3. Life Science: Progress in Advanced Medical Technology and Questions about Humanity in the AI Era
Advances in life science are deepening our understanding of human 'life' and opening up new possibilities to improve its quality. This past week, progress in cutting-edge medical technology and ethical questions in medical innovation brought about by AI have attracted attention.
Progress in Cutting-Edge Research and the Future of Digital Medicine
On October 6, 2025, Sweden's Karolinska Institute announced that it would award the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to three Japanese and American researchers, including Professor Emeritus Shimon Sakaguchi of Osaka University, who discovered 'regulatory T cells' that suppress excessive immune responses, and their unknown greatness was explained in detail on October 12. This discovery is expected to bring major progress to future medicine, such as the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer. On October 21, the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology announced that it had succeeded in developing a new molecule, 'G4L-PROTAC,' that degrades G4-binding proteins. This is a result that holds promise for new drug discovery approaches for cancer and infectious diseases. On October 24, Juntendo University announced that it had discovered a new rule for protein transport, the 'transporter' of cells, which is expected to lead to an understanding of brain function and diseases. The 1st Japanese Society of Digital Medicine was held in Tokyo for two days starting October 18, where Yasuhiro Suzuki, former Chief Medical and Global Health Officer of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare and President of the International University of Health and Welfare, took the stage and emphasized the four 'P's of personalized, predictive, preventive, and participatory medicine. The Japanese telemedicine market is projected to reach 23.227 billion USD by 2033, driven by AI-powered remote care and more.
Progress in AI Medicine and Ethical Challenges
Fujitsu and Teikyo University began full-scale joint research on October 18 on a UX platform that supports lifestyle improvement and health literacy enhancement by deeply understanding one's own internal body state using digital technologies such as XR (Extended Reality) and generative AI. On October 24, the International Gymnastics Federation announced that it would collaborate with Fujitsu and Acer Medical to plan health-promoting insurance services that reflect AI-based exercise evaluation for an aging society. An application that digitizes elderly frailty prevention exercise programs using AI was developed, and its demonstration experiment was conducted during the '53rd World Artistic Gymnastics Championships' held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from October 19 to 25. The international symposium on AI medical regulation, 'AIRIS 2025,' was held by the WHO and the South Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety from September 10-12, and an outcome statement was released on October 24. This highlights the current situation where governance of medical AI, risk auditing, and transparency and accountability of AI in patient-centered medicine are required as new medical ethics. On October 19, 2025, OpenAI announced that it had paused the generation of portraits of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in its video generation AI 'Sora.' This measure was taken at the request of the bereaved family organization, indicating a policy to strengthen ethical guardrails regarding the treatment of historical figures.
◆ Christian thought, which states that 'humans were created in the image of God,' teaches us that every single 'life' has irreplaceable dignity. The honor of the Nobel Prize for the discovery of regulatory T cells, and cutting-edge research such as the development of new molecules and the elucidation of protein transport, demonstrate the great power of science to unravel the mysteries of life and save suffering 'life.' The progress of personalized medicine aimed at by digital medicine and health promotion services using AI is a ray of hope that deeply respects that dignity and improves the quality of life. However, now that AI is deeply penetrating medical settings and affecting people's health, lives, and even the treatment of historical figures, we are burdened with the heavy responsibility of establishing fundamental questions about 'humanity' and AI ethics. While enjoying the benefits of science to the fullest, how can we cultivate and protect the empathy and ethics unique to humans? What is required of us living in this era is the harmony of science, technology, and ethics, and wise choices based on deep contemplation.
#iichieMemo #FuturePrediction #Life #Agriculture #Environment #Technology #ChristianThought #DignityOfLife #Sustainability #ResponsibilityToNextGeneration #LetsTalkAboutTheFutureOnNote
Source notes:
South African government announces Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) (Republic of South Africa) - JETRO (October 24, 2025)
Renova, Inc. announces that the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has published its judgment on the compliance of the public offering occupancy guidelines for the offshore wind power project in Kazamaura Village, Aomori Prefecture - PR TIMES (October 25, 2025)
"Future-style agriculture" begins in Kochi! Adinte starts sales of hydroponic vegetables - PR TIMES (October 24, 2025)
AGRIST wins top prize at the global food and agriculture conference "WAFI 2025" - PR TIMES (October 15, 2025)
Bunshun Shinsho's "Reiwa Rice Riots: Why Did the Food Defeat Happen?" to be released on October 17! - PR TIMES (October 17, 2025)
30% of rice producers want to increase production next year due to high rice prices: Production intention survey by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - JAcom (October 22, 2025)
<<Easy-to-understand explanation of news terms>> The hidden power of "regulatory T cells" highlighted by the Nobel Prize - Toyo Keizai Online (October 12, 2025)
1st Japan Society of Digital Medicine: Former MHLW Medical Officer Suzuki says "Hope is digital," discusses the future of AI medicine opened up by "4P" - Mix Online (October 19, 2025)
International Gymnastics Federation partners with Fujitsu and Acer Medical to plan health-promoting insurance services that reflect AI-based exercise evaluation for an aging society - Fujitsu (October 24, 2025)
[Released October 24, 2025] Mechanism for the two-color pattern of Kurakake soybeans elucidated: Discovery of gene expression regulation by quercetin - Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (October 24, 2025)
New Global Multidimensional Poverty Index report finds that nearly 80% of the world's poor live in areas exposed to climate hazards | Press release from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Representation Office in Japan - PR TIMES (October 17, 2025)
The reality of climate finance plaguing low-income countries - Global News View (October 17, 2025)
First half of 2025: Global renewable energy generation exceeds coal-fired power generation for the first time in history - Global Trends - EIC Net (October 25, 2025)
Japan's telemedicine market is projected to reach 23.227 billion USD by 2033, driven by AI-powered remote care, virtual consultations, and government medical policies | NEWSCAST (October 25, 2025)
Regarding the announcement of the outcome statement of the "International Symposium on Medical AI Regulation (AIRIS 2025)" | Mix Online, providing information on ethical drugs and medical devices (October 24, 2025)
OpenAI temporarily suspends portrait generation of Martin Luther King Jr. with video generation AI "Sora," in consultation with his family - PR TIMES (October 19, 2025)
Ministry of the Environment implements a campaign to strengthen fire prevention caused by lithium-ion batteries (October 24, 2025)
Development of "G4L-PROTAC," a new molecule that degrades G4-binding proteins: Expectations for new drug discovery approaches for cancer and infectious diseases - Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology (October 21, 2025)
New rules for cellular "transporters" | Press release from Juntendo Educational Foundation - PR TIMES (October 24, 2025)
Smart Agriculture Technology Guide for the AI/IoT Era | Introduction Benefits, Subsidies, Human Resource Development... - AI Management Research Institute (October 25, 2025)
Takaichi Cabinet Appoints 3 Lawmakers Elected from Nagasaki Prefecture as Parliamentary Secretaries; Ambitions to 'Give Full Effort' at Cabinet Office, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, and Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries - FNN Prime Online (October 23, 2025)
Message from Secretary-General António Guterres for United Nations Day (October 24) (October 23, 2025)