2025 Activity Report vol.4:Kyushu University

Agriculture continues to be a cornerstone of the economies of Morocco and Tunisia, yet rural areas in both countries face pressing challenges, including economic disparities with urban centers, depopulation, and an aging population as younger generations migrate to cities. To address these issues, a one-week exchange program was organized at Kyushu University, welcoming four students and faculty members from Al Akhawayn University (Morocco) and the Mediterranean School of Business (Tunisia).

The program explored strategies for revitalizing rural communities in North Africa through the application of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) principles, sustainable agricultural practices, and the preservation of cultural identity. Held from September 12 to 18, 2025, the program was conducted at Kyushu University's Faculty of Agriculture and in Kurogi Town, Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture. It brought together participants from Japan, Morocco, and Tunisia for a rich combination of lectures, workshops, field visits, and cultural exchange activities. The initiative was implemented with the support of the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).

On September 13, lectures and discussions were delivered at the Faculty of Agriculture, focusing on the application of GIAHS principles to rural revitalization in North Africa. Participants explored how conserving traditional agricultural practices, valorizing local products, and integrating sustainable tourism can serve as tools for community empowerment. On September 14, the group took part in interactive workshops to identify potential heritage sites in Morocco and Tunisia based on GIAHS criteria. Later, they visited Ito-saisai, Japan's leading farmers' market, to observe sustainable agricultural marketing and community-based product branding.

From September 15 to 17, participants joined the Creative Village Design Workshop, a three-day immersive experience held at Egao no Mori, a community hub in Kasahara, Kurogi Town, the birthplace of Yame tea with over six centuries of history. Together with students from Kyushu University's Graduate School of Design and the Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, they explored how cultural heritage and agriculture can coexist within sustainable development frameworks.

The workshop began with traditional Yame tea mountain songs and dances, followed by lessons from the legendary Tea Garden, where participants learned about Japanese tea-brewing techniques and the cultural significance of Yame tea. Discussions centered on how tea producers are adapting to the global matcha boom while preserving local identity and craftsmanship.

Over the following days, participants engaged in hands-on agricultural activities, including caring for goats, pruning bamboo forests, and exploring the village to identify "inspiration spots. " They documented these through photography, words, and sound as part of a collaborative art project. The experience culminated in a reflective field walk and a visit to the Yame Central Tea Plantation, where the group learned about branding and positioning Yame tea in relation to other major tea-producing regions such as Shizuoka, Kagoshima, and Kyoto.

Through this combination of lectures, workshops, and experiential learning, the participants gained a deeper understanding of how agricultural heritage, local identity, and sustainability can be integrated to strengthen rural economies. The program provided a platform for cross-regional knowledge exchange and inspired the development of pilot projects to apply GIAHS-based approaches in Morocco and Tunisia.