TSUKUBA CONNÉCT #89 BEYOND FARM TO TABLE: The Frontier of Food and Agriculture

TSUKUBA CONNÉCT #89 takes food and agriculture as its theme. The program looks at how microbial protein, upcycling of discarded resources, breeding technology that gives crops new value, and robotics on harvest and processing lines are rewriting every step of growing, harvesting, moving, and eating. Ibaraki is one of Japan's largest agricultural producers, and Tsukuba concentrates agricultural, food, and bio research institutes, so the field and the lab sit within a few dozen kilometres of each other. The evening opens with an orientation for first-time attendees (17:30-17:55), followed by session 1 (18:00-18:50, content to be announced), a Pitch Arena on new food products (18:55-19:50), and a talk session on the social implementation and industry creation Ibaraki and Tsukuba are aiming for (20:00-20:55). Pitches come from Tokyo Bal and Act Design (upcycled food from food residue), with commentators and moderators from UnlocX, AgVenture Lab, the Japan Research Institute, and Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology. In parallel, the Creative Lab hosts STARTUP CAREER MEETUP vol.21, a mini-pitch and mixer with participants from Startup Weekend Tsukuba, and a casual science talk with a science communicator. The venue is Tsukuba Startup Park, five minutes on foot from exit A1 of Tsukuba station on the TX line, with networking running from 17:30 to 21:00 and remote participation available online.