President's message
One thing sets the Institute apart. Besides macroeconomics and finance, we also have research divisions specializing in the challenges facing the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector and in the cooperative system and cooperative management. Soaring crude oil and grain prices in the years 2006 through 2008, the global financial crisis of 2008, subsequent readjustments in social and economic systems — all these have generated unprecedented interest in the unique body of research we have built up to date.
In 2007 to 2009, for example, our researchers visited the world’s major grain-producing countries and regions and compiled a report describing the state of farm production, agricultural policy, and grain supply and demand in each. This work provides a straightforward look at how the global grain market is changing and why. Similarly, our stock of information on agricultural, fishery and forestry cooperatives and our accumulated research on cooperative banking in Europe both constitute valuable sources of data that can help guide the paradigm shift in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.
The Institute constantly and systematically monitors Japanese and international economic and financial trends, carefully analyzes the findings, and disseminates the results in timely fashion. In a rapidly changing world, our regular economic forecasts and many other research publications have long been highly valued by readers.
Our unparalleled collection of data, including detailed statistics on agricultural and forestry finance, serves the needs of many interested parties.
We will continue to disseminate timely, accurate information in this fashion, both for the benefit of organizations involved in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector, and in order to foster understanding of the industry and its cooperatives among the public at large. In that endeavor we look forward to your ongoing support.
Masataka Miyazono, President
Norinchukin Research Institute Co., Ltd.
October 2011
