University of Toyama and IIT Kharagpur deepen Institutional Partnership through Academic Exchange
A delegation from the University of Toyama, Japan, visited the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur from January 31 to February 5, 2026, as part of the ongoing student exchange program and institutional collaboration. The visit focused on sustainability science, climate-smart agriculture, food security, water and environmental engineering, and innovation-led education, and included a series of structured academic and outreach engagements. The delegation from the University of Toyama comprised Prof. Norio Horie, Prof. Naoya Wada, Prof. Geetha Mohan, Mr. Atsushi Hirooka, Mr. Yusuke Yamazaki, Ms. Reina Yoshiara, and Mr. Eita Yoshida.
Krishi Mela (Farmers’ Festival): Grassroots Engagement in Sustainable Agriculture
Photo: Krishi Mela (Farmers’ Festival)
Photo: Krishi Mela (Farmers’ Festival)
The visit began with active participation in the Krishi Mela (Farmers’ Festival) at IIT Kharagpur, coordinated by Prof. Dillip Kumar Swain. Faculty members and students from the University of Toyama engaged directly with farmers, agricultural practitioners, and local stakeholders. These interactions offered direct exposure to climate-resilient farming practices, climate-smart technologies, and farmer-led innovations, underscoring the significance of connecting scientific research with practical field applications in sustainable agriculture and food systems.
Courtesy Meeting with the Director and Deputy Director, IIT Kharagpur
Photo: Meeting with Director, IIT Kharagpur
Photo: Meeting with Deputy Director, IIT Kharagpur
The delegation paid a courtesy visit to Prof. Suman Chakraborty, Director of IIT Kharagpur, and Prof. Rintu Banerjee, Deputy Director of IIT Kharagpur. The meeting was attended by Prof. Norio Horie, Prof. Naoya Wada, Prof. Geetha Mohan, and students from the University of Toyama. The discussions focused on strengthening Indo–Japanese academic collaboration, expanding student and faculty mobility, and promoting interdisciplinary research to address global sustainability challenges.
Meeting with Dean and Vice-Dean (International Relations)
Photo: Meeting with Dean and Deputy Dean (IR), IIT Kharagpur
A dedicated meeting was held with Prof. Anandaroop Bhattacharya, Dean (International Relations), and Dr. Aekopal Kishore Goswami, Vice-Dean (International Relations) of IIT Kharagpur, along with Prof. Norio Horie, Prof. Naoya Wada, Prof. Geetha Mohan, and students. The discussion explored mechanisms to enhance student exchange programs, joint academic initiatives, and long-term institutional partnerships, with particular emphasis on sustainability, focused education, and collaborative research frameworks
Engagement with the Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering
Photo: Meeting with the Head, Department of Agriculture and Food Engineering, IIT Kharagpur
The delegation met with Prof. Madan Kumar Jha, Head of the Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, and the department’s faculty, including Dr. Gourav Dhar Bhowmick. The discussions, which included Prof. Norio Horie, Prof. Naoya Wada, Prof. Geetha Mohan, and students, covered current and future collaboration in sustainable agriculture, food processing technologies, water and wastewater treatment, smart 3D agricultural techniques, and aquacultural engineering.
Photo: Visited Dr. Bhowmick’ s Laboratory, Department of Agriculture and Food Engineering, IIT Kharagpur
Special emphasis was placed on research areas such as water conservation, bioenergy, and sustainable agricultural practices. Dr. Gourav Dhar Bhowmick highlighted his commitment to inspiring the next generation of students, fostering environmental stewardship, and advancing cutting-edge technologies. Together, the goal is to work toward a greener, more sustainable future while disseminating knowledge to early-career technologists and entrepreneurs globally.
Student Poster Presentation on Climate-Smart Technologies
Photo: Venue of Student Poster Presentations, IIT Kharagpur
Students from the University of Toyama participated in a poster presentation session titled “Climate-Smart Technologies for Sustainable Agricultural Production and Food Processing.” The session highlighted innovative ideas and applied research solutions addressing climate change impacts across agri-food systems.
Photo: Venue of Student Poster Presentations, IIT Kharagpur
Notably, Ms. Reina Yoshiara (University of Toyama) received Third Place for her poster presentation, which recognized the scientific merit, innovation, and practical relevance of her work.
Japanese Students Attending Classes at IIT Kharagpur
Photo: Students at the Department of Agriculture and Food Engineering, IIT Kharagpur
As part of the exchange program, Japanese students, including Ms. Reina Yoshiara, Mr. Eita Yoshida, Mr. Yusuke Yamazaki, and Mr. Atsushi Hirooka, attended regular classes at IIT Kharagpur to gain a first-hand academic experience. This engagement provided meaningful opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, cross-cultural interaction, and exposure to Indian pedagogical and research approaches in agricultural engineering, sustainability, and related disciplines.
Additional Academic, Laboratory, and Innovation Interactions
Photo: Meeting with the Faculty of Rajendra Mishra School of Engineering Entrepreneurship, IIT Kharagpur
The program also included laboratory visits, field and industry exposure, and interactions with the Rajendra Mishra School of Engineering Entrepreneurship (SEE). An interaction meeting was held with Dr. Bhaskar Bhowmick, Head, SEE, along with colleagues Dr. Mamoni Banerjee and her students, as well as Prof. Norio Horie, Prof. Naoya Wada, Prof. Geetha Mohan, and students from the University of Toyama. The discussions highlighted strong alignment among SEE, IIT Kharagpur, and the School of Sustainability at the University of Toyama, particularly in multi- and transdisciplinary research, innovation-driven education, and social sustainability.
Industry Visit to JAPFA Comfeed India Private Limited
Photo: JAPFA Comfeed India Private Limited
As part of the program, the delegation visited JAPFA Comfeed India Private Limited, a leading organization in animal nutrition and poultry and aquaculture feed production. The visit provided insights into feed formulation technologies, quality control, biosecurity practices, and sustainability-oriented production systems. The interaction highlighted the role of industry–academia collaboration in translating research into practice, particularly in resource efficiency, water conservation, waste minimization, circular bioeconomy approaches, and sustainable agri-food value chains.
The visit concluded with wrap-up discussions reaffirming a shared commitment to long-term collaboration. Key pathways identified included Master’s-level student exchange programs, joint Master’s degree development, joint thesis supervision, collaborative project proposals for global funding opportunities, and joint innovation programs addressing social and environmental sustainability challenges. The partnership, coordinated by Prof. Geetha Mohan of the University of Toyama and Prof. Dillip Kumar Swain of IIT Kharagpur as the respective institutional focal points, represents an important step in strengthening bilateral cooperation. The visit reinforced a shared vision to advance education, research, innovation, and sustainability through interdisciplinary collaboration, while fostering globally engaged students and researchers.