On Monday, September 1, the delegation from Tokyo NODAI, led by President Eguchi, visited Wageningen University & Research (WUR) in the Netherlands, a n international partner institution.

The visit began with a welcome address by WUR President Sjoukje Heimovaara. In response, President Eguchi expressed his hopes for the continued development of academic exchange and ongoing collaboration between the two institutions, while also highlighting the importance of international academic cooperation. He further emphasized the significance of academic ties between the two nations by recounting the history of the university’s founder, Takeaki Enomoto; Enomoto had studied cutting-edge technology in the Netherlands as one of the Edo Shogunate’s first overseas students and subsequently applied that knowledge and experience to the modernization and development of Japan.

Next, Mr. Kalyan Guntuboyina, Regional Manager, International Cooperation for Asia at Wageningen University, provided an overview of the university and outlined its education and research strategies. This was followed by discussions with the university's research and education representatives regarding the potential for joint research in cutting-edge fields—such as precision agriculture—and ways to invigorate mutual exchange through the dispatch and acceptance of students.

Additionally, Professor Miyaura, Director of the Center for Global Initiatives, presented an overview of Tokyo NODAI and its international exchange initiatives. Both parties engaged in a lively exchange of views on strengthening future collaboration and affirmed their commitment to further developing their cooperative relationship in the fields of education and research.

The delegation toured Wageningen University's state-of-the-art, large-scale research facilities.　The tour included facilities associated with Radix—which conducts research and system development on predictive maintenance and the application of digital twin technology in smart agriculture and food systems—as well as facilities linked to the Netherlands Plant Eco-phenotyping Centre (NPEC), where research advances climate change adaptation and sustainable food production through the automated, high-precision measurement and analysis of plant morphology and growth. The delegation received briefings on cutting-edge research equipment and findings, while also gaining a deeper understanding of potential opportunities for future research collaboration.

The delegation consisted of five members—President Eguchi, Director Taiji (NODAI Research Institute), Director Miyaura (Center for Global Initiatives), Director Iwai (International Affairs, University Secretariat), and Chief Teratani (President's Office Secretariat)—joined by Associate Professor Sato, who is currently conducting research at Wageningen University under the university's official overseas research program.