Greetings from President

Yasuhiro Yogo, President,
The Pesticide Science Society of Japan

　The Pesticide Science Society of Japan (PSSJ) celebrates the 50th anniversary in 2025 since its establishment in 1975. Based on this half-century of history, the Society was registered and established as a General Incorporated Association on February 17, 2025, followed by receiving the corporate number on February 26. And the Society was approved as the Association at the General Assembly held on March 11.

　Our visions are set at the occasion of the incorporation as follows. The first vision is “Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI).” This concept was introduced in Europe and the United States since early 2000s and simply means “Takin care of the future through collective stewardship of science and innovation in the present” (Jack Stilgoea et al. 2013). Then research and innovation should be promoted in cooperation with governance and communication. This is truly “Regulatory Science”, and one of the objectives of our incorporation is to realize the concept of RRI.

　The second vision is “Nurture Young People”. Seniors can produce results with high certainty based on their abundant knowledge and experience. Young people have high potential, which cannot be recognized within so-called “common sense”, although its uncertainty is high due to their limited knowledge and experience. This is applicable to science in general, and PSSJ provides opportunities to communicate with each other and to exchange information to bring out their potential.

　To achieve these visions, we aim to grasp the “Raison d'être” of PSSJ in science and society, and to take the step forward in expression of our views, within the first phase of the incorporation. In addition, we will also establish the infrastructure aiming at more stable and efficient society management after the incorporation towards the first century.

　The concept of “DEI”, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, exists for the management of the organization. From the first perspective of diversity, a wide range of studies exist in PSSJ, such as chemical synthesis to pesticides usage, what’s more to integrated pest and weed management (IPM), the usage includes plant protection, growth regulation and even reduction of abiotic stress. To achieve these studies, we will provide opportunities to communicate and cooperate among basic to applied research. Secondly, from the viewpoint of equity, there are large differences in circumstances and values depending on membership types, individual affiliations, and positions. In this context, we will actively support young people and consider the equity in PSSJ and science itself. Third, from the viewpoint of inclusion, we will provide better circumstances than ever before as opportunities to communicate among a wide range of organizations and positions, such as agricultural experimental stations, pesticide companies, corporations, universities, and governments. We will also deepen the relationship with related sciences, such as IPM, biostimulant and digital transformation (DX). We will also consider how to communicate internationally from the viewpoint of nurturing young people.

　Pesticide science involves a wide range of fields from natural to social science. In recent years, the research, development and launch of various novel technologies are rapidly progressing, such as peptide/RNA pesticides, and modern biotechnology, e.g. gene modification and genome editing, as well as formulations using nanotechnology and for application with drones. In addition, the scopes of pesticide science are not only crop and humans but also the environment, which is an unstable complex system, wide range of stakeholders exist, and a long-term perspective/roadmap is always required. Therefore, there are many unknown and uncivilized fields in pesticide science, and it is highly challenging and fascinating.

　Pesticide is an important tool for better plant growth and quality. As the solo society in Japan that focuses on this tool, the executive board of the PSSJ will continuously devote to contribute to the development of agricultural production through plant protection. Your continued support and cooperation is highly appreciated, not only among our members but also from related organizations and the public.

　The Pesticide Science Society of Japan,
President, Yasuhiro YOGO

April. 2025