On Earth Day, when the whole world’s attention is focused on the future of our planet, representatives of the Warsaw University of Life Sciences spoke at one of the most significant international events – the World Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai. Just eight days after its grand opening, scientists from SGGW and their Japanese partners inaugurated the Week for the Promotion of Polish Science while acting as a substantive partner of Polish Earth Day.
Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai features 170 participants, including 161 countries and regions, and has become a space for exchanging ideas and presenting innovative research and cooperation at the highest international level. According to the organisers’ assumptions, the Expo will be visited by more than 28 million people. SGGW’s presence at Expo 2025 is made possible by the “International Scientific Event at the World Expo 2025” program, funded by a targeted grant from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education through NAWA. The project aims to strengthen Polish-Japanese scientific ties and strengthen the position of natural science universities as innovation leaders.
Conference
The conference brought together experts from Poland and Japan, focusing on the challenges of sustainable development, digital transformation and implementation of research results into business practice.
The event was opened by Dr. Marta Mendel, Vice-Rector for Internationalization; Dr. Maria Mrówczyńska, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Science and Higher Education; Dr. Bartłomiej Nowak, chairman of the Council; representative of the Minister in charge of higher education and science, and guests included Dr. Wojciech Karczewski, Director General of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange, and Dr. Łukasz Golota, Deputy Director of the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange.
Plants in Health
Profesor Mohamed Hazem Kalaji of the Institute of Biology at SGGW presented the results of Polish-Japanese cooperation in biotechnology, conducted in collaboration with Dr. Seiya Sato (University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences in Niigata) and Yasunari Sato, president of Green’s Green Company (Niigata). Presentations included an antiviral respirator made from mosses and the use of plant lectins, such as concanavalin A, in the production of natural antiviral agents.
Green’s Green Ltd. representatives participated in the discussion and, together with SGGW scientists, discussed the commercialisation process of research results and the potential of natural bioproducts in public health.
Digital transformation in the fight against food waste
The second panel, led by Prof. Magdalena Vaverková of the Institute of Civil Engineering at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, addressed the topic of countering food waste in the spirit of the 3R principle (reduce, reuse, recycle). The panel brought together an international group of experts, including: Makoto Tanaka (Consumer Affairs Agency, Government of Japan), Tomohiro Ishikawa (The Distribution Economics Institute of Japan), Yasuhiro Matsui (Associate Professor, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University), Maja Sutkowska (Doctoral student, Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University), Kazuya Kitao (Sinops Co. Ltd.), Norimasa Wada (Sato Co. Ltd.), Tatsuro Watanabe (Senshu University).
The discussion focused on modelling consumer behaviour in the circular economy context in Poland and Japan. The experts presented modern digital tools and solutions based on artificial intelligence that support the reduction of food waste at all stages of the supply chain – from production to consumption.
Workshops in the Poland Pavilion
An integral part of the event was an interactive scientific workshop in the Poland Pavilion. Profesor Mohamed Kalaji invited participants to a workshop entitled. “Plants as a source of natural antiviral substances and products and the role of photosynthesis in regulating their growth environment.” Visitors to the Poland Pavilion learned about unique technologies for monitoring plant health and the fascinating world of their communication and protective abilities.
Also on the agenda of SGGW’s presence at Expo 2025, was Professor Magdalena Vaverkova’s workshop, “Urban Composting: a Model for Sustainable Waste Management,” on solutions for efficient composting in urban spaces.
The participation of SGGW scientists at Expo 2025 in Osaka, Kansai, is not only a presentation of research achievements, but also an opportunity to speak in the global discussion about the future of our planet. Sustainable development, climate research, protection of human and animal health are just a selection of the research areas that SGGW scientists are involved in. The opportunity to become a patron of the Polish Earth Day at the World Expo 2025 Osaka is a distinction and a proof of trust for us, proving that the research and international activities conducted are necessary for the development of Poland and its image worldwide.
Honorary Partner of the Polish Pavilion at the World Expo 2025
Dr. Marta Mendel, Prof. SGGW, Vice-Rector for Internationalisation, on behalf of the authorities of SGGW, received the title of Honorary Partner of the Polish Pavilion at the World Expo from the organisers. This distinction is awarded to institutions that specifically support promoting Polish science, culture, economy or innovation internationally, as part of Poland’s presence at Expo.