Global warming is the cause of the recent extreme weather events. Food production generates anthropogenic greenhouse gases other than CO₂, such as nitrous oxide (N₂O) and methane (CH₄). Modifying the agricultural production system to prevent global warming has become an essential issue for human survival.

So far, we have shown that plant symbiotic microorganisms, such as rhizobia with N₂O-reducing activity and CH₄-oxidizing nitrogen-fixing bacteria in rice roots, can reduce N₂O and CH₄ emissions from soil.

Based on these results, we are conducting joint research with domestic and overseas researchers in the Moonshot project as a research hub for “Cool Earth,” aiming to reduce greenhouse gases by utilizing soil microorganisms’ functions.

We are researching the soil structures to maximize the greenhouse gas reduction potential of soil microorganisms including rhizobia and rhizosphere microorganisms.Our goal is to realize a “Cool Earth” with soil-microorganism-plant systems. We only have about ten years left before the critical point of a drastic change in the global environment!

So far, we have shown that plant symbiotic microorganisms, such as rhizobia with N₂O-reducing activity and CH₄-oxidizing nitrogen-fixing bacteria in rice roots, can reduce N₂O and CH₄ from soil from the field level to the molecular level.