7/29 (Wed) How to Create Interesting Vegetables: A Night of Real-Deal Breeding Theory and Practice with a Corporate Researcher [Academic Bar Q Event Details]

Surprisingly sticky okra, golden tomatoes, low-bitterness bell peppers...
Why and how were these interesting vegetables created?
A night to fully explore the profound world of "variety development" while snacking on delicious vegetables!

We highly recommend this event for the following people!

・Those who want to taste interesting vegetables along with the secret stories behind their development
・Those who want to hear real, authentic behind-the-scenes stories from professionals involved in breeding at seed companies
・Those involved in food or agriculture-related work who are interested in technical discussions regarding breeding and variety development

Event Overview

The colorful vegetables we casually pick up at supermarkets and other places.
There is a long history of trial and error by researchers before they are born.

Taste, appearance, ease of growing, disease resistance, yield, ease of distribution...
There are truly various perspectives emphasized in vegetable variety development.
What kind of profound world spreads out there, and what kind of ingenuity and trial and error do researchers engage in?

This time, we will be speaking with Naoki Tominaga, a researcher who has long been involved in vegetable component analysis at Takii & Co., Ltd., a long-established seed company in Kyoto founded in 1835.
We will have this die-hard professional, who has been fascinated by the diversity of metabolites produced by plants since before joining the company, talk to his heart's content.

"What is breeding in the first place?"
"What is the difference between F1 varieties and fixed varieties?"
"How are new varieties selected?"...
From such basic knowledge related to breeding to the development background of the "FiTRICH" series, a vegetable brand by Takii & Co. that focuses on functional components, an introduction to research and development methods actually used in the field of research, and even what happens to the vegetables that are actually created, he will share a truly wide range of stories.

Furthermore, we are also planning a tasting of "FiTRICH" vegetables on the day!
"What is this vegetable, it's interesting!"Let's enjoy these vegetables that will make you want to exclaim, along with their backstories.

Eat, listen, and be surprised.
It is a night that will change the way you look at your usual vegetables.
Whether you like vegetables, are interested in food or agriculture, or want to peek into the field of corporate research, please feel free to come.

You can make an advance reservation here

Event Details

About the Event Speaker

Naoki Tominaga (Chief, Research Farm Basic Technology Research Group, Takii & Co., Ltd.)

Completed Master's program at Tokyo University of Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology (currently Graduate School of Advanced Science and Technology).
At university, I studied applied microbiology and conducted daily research on the metabolic pathways by which organisms produce substances.
I would like to talk with actual examples about what a person who joined a seed company with nothing but the enthusiasm that it might be interesting if this could be applied to vegetables and fruits, and that it might be useful for producers and consumers, is trying to do.

Time Table (Planned)

18:00 Doors open (Bar time until the event starts)
19:30 Event starts
・Speaker self-introduction
・Overview of the seed company
・Talk about breeding
・Background of the launch of FiTRICH
・Introduction of actual varieties, tasting corner (*Some vegetables that can be ordered anytime during business hours will also be provided!)
・About utilization examples of the "FiTRICH" vegetable brand
21:30 Main event ends (planned), free talk and networking time
23:00 Doors close

Business Hours

18:00 - 23:00
(You are free to enter and leave during business hours)

Fee

General: 1,000 yen/hour, Students: 500 yen only
(General admission uses a time-charge system; food and drink costs are separate.)

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