Department of Agro-bioscience
This department consists of four units and
two attached facilities. Some units are affiliated with institutions
outside the university.
1. Plant production
This unit consists of five research groups: crop science,
grassland science, fruit science, vegetable and flower gardening
science, and soil science. The students study in the areas of (1)
identifying and analyzing systems for sustainable cultivation of food crops
and the species adaptable to cold climates; (2) breeding of endophyte-enhanced
pasture plants; (3) breeding of apples and blueberries and improvement
of their cultivation performance; (4) breeding of horticultural plants
and differentiation of their species, phylogeny and cultivars; (5)
analyses of the dynamics of nutrient between soil and plants; and (6) remediation
of degraded soil using the functions of microorganism.
2. Animal science
Students in this unit study the general theories and techniques of animal
production ranging from the production of animals to the use of animal
products with the following objectives:
･ Application of embryological engineering to the production of useful
animals, identification of super-early pregnancy factors in mammals, elucidation
of vital phenomena of livestock, laboratory and wild animals including
their reproductive physiology and endocrine systems, and development of
breeding and reproduction techniques for animals;
･ elucidation of ruminant animalsﾕ nutritional characteristics, particularly
the mechanisms for the absorption of feed nutrients and biometabolism,
as well as their endocrine functions, and development and the effective
utilization of resources for animal feeds;
･ Development of environmentally-, ecologically- and hygienically-oriented
management systems for animal production; and
･ Processing and effective utilization of products.
3. Biofunction science
Biofunction science is a field of science for the study of the generality
and diversity of living organisms through an analysis of the functions
and metabolism of animals, plants and microorganisms. The knowledge gained
through research, such as metabolic control mechanisms and genetic functions
in living organism, is applied to the production of useful substances.
For example, students study the effective use of biofunction through research
in various areas, including biodefense mechanisms and the varied genetic
features of plants, plant physiology and the ability to absorb nutrients,
mechanisms of lifecycle control and functional expression in insects, structures
and functions of enzymes produced by microorganisms, enzyme systems involved
in the synthesis and decomposition of biological components, and expression
of genetic information.
4. Food and health science
Food, which we eat everyday, is an important aspect of healthy body and
life. The Food and Health Science unit provides education and research
opportunities for the development of a regional food industry through genetic
analysis of health-maintaining functions of food, such as foods that combat
the symptoms of lifestyle diseases or prevent aging, from a biological
point of view. Students conduct chemical analyses of traditional food items,
such as tofu, to create new food items that are safe, appetizing and with
added value, and develop processing methods incorporating cutting-edge
technologies.
5. Affiliated Field Science Research Center for Cold Climate
The center conducts research on production technologies for suburban mixed
farming and animal husbandry techniques for mid-altitude mountain areas.
6. Affiliated Biosystem Research Center for Cold Climates
One of the research projects at this center is to elucidate biological
phenomena in cold climates for application to the breeding of useful animals.
7. Iwate Biotechnology Research Center (affiliated graduate school)
Research projects include molecular biology and the genetic analyses of
plants, and the biosafety of genetic modification technology.
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