Affiliated laboratories and Facilities

List of Attached Facilities

University Farm

The farm consists of three areas (crops, livestock, and horticulture) centered on the Agri-Bio Research Facility at Ito Campus, Sasaguri Orchard (Sasaguri Town), and Kuju Agricultural Research Center (Takeda City, Oita Prefecture). The University Farm has excellent facilities for both field instruction and research on paddy field agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry. Diverse experiments are conducted on cultivating agricultural crops, raising domestic animals, and developing systems for sustainable agriculture.

University Forest

The University Forest is composed of three forests. The Kasuya Research Forest (463 ha) is located in the towns of Sasaguri and Hisayama, Fukuoka Prefecture, about 32 km east of the Ito campus of Kyushu University. Over 60% of the forest area is covered by plantation forests, whilst the rest of the area is natural forest consisting of warm-temperate evergreen trees. The Shiiba Research Forest (2,916 ha) is located in Shiiba Village, Miyazaki Prefecture, the central area of the Kyushu mountain range. The forest area is mainly covered by natural forests containing a mixture of deciduous broadleaf trees and conifers. Only 18% of the forest area is occupied by plantation forest. The Ashoro Research Forest (3,713 ha) is located in Ashoro Town, eastern Hokkaido. About 60% of the forest area is covered by natural forest containing cool-temperate deciduous broadleaf trees. The rest of the forest area is occupied by plantation forests. These forests covering the major vegetation zones in the Japanese archipelago are utilized not only for education and research on forest sciences and other topics including biology and environmental sciences. They are also utilized for hands-on learning programs for members of the public including children.

Fishery Research Laboratory

The Fishery Research Laboratory was established in 1944, as one of the attached institutions of Kyushu University. The laboratory is located on the Tsuyazaki coast (about 25 km north of Fukuoka City), facing the sea of Genkai. Staff in the laboratory are mainly concerned with subjects relating to fisheries science: fish ecology, fish physiology, aquaculture, and fry production of marine animals. Research facilities, including two research vessels and accommodation, are also offered to researchers and students who may wish to visit and carry out research and/or experiments.

Institute of Biological Control

The Institute of Biological Control concentrates on microbial control of insect pests, fungi and protozoan infection in insects, defense reaction of insects to microbial diseases, biological control of arthropod pests with parasitoids and predators, ecology of parasitoids and predators, biological control of citrus scale pests, and biological control of greenhouse pests.

Institute of Genetic Resources

The institute is devoted to basic and applied studies on genetics with a special interest in the maintenance of stocks of the agriculturally important organisms silkworm, rice and fermentative microbes. Emphasis has also been placed on studies at the molecular level to contribute to the development of biotechnology and to establish gene libraries of these biological resources.

Center for Promotion of International Education and Research, Faculty of Agriculture

The Center for Promotion of International Education and Research (cPIER), in collaboration with other faculty members and the International Promotion Office, supports both research and education activities of the faculty of Agriculture through a range of international programs. cPIER faculty members have their research groups and actively conduct extensive research within their respective domains, spanning various areas including economics, molecular and cellular biology, and mathematical modeling. cPIER promotes and teaches in the Faculty of Agriculture International Undergraduate Program (IUP) for Japanese and international students studying in English. Additionally, cPIER members contribute to coordinating and promoting the International Graduate Program (IGP) in the Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironment. The IGP offers English-language courses for Master and Doctoral degrees with a strong focus on advanced research in specialized areas. cPIER is also involved in the development/management of many international programs, such as double degree programs at undergraduate/graduate levels.

Innovative Bio-Architecture Center

Innovative Bio-Architecture Center (i -BAC), was established in April 2015 by reorganizing the Bio-Architecture Center (KBAC), which was founded in 2005 and had functioned as a center for strategic research promoting post-genome omics sciences at Kyushu University. Based on the achievements in basic and applied biological research at KBAC, i-BAC aims to advance two novel research areas: industrial biomaterial/bioenergy design and positive health design. The center comprises two divisions, "Biomaterials" and "Metabolic systems", and has been committed to promoting education about these research areas in the Undergraduate and Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences at Kyushu University.

Insect Science and Creative Entomology Center

The Insect Science and Creative Entomology Center was established in April 2018, to integrate the insect sciences of Kyushu University and creating new "knowledge"in order to overcome issues such as loss of biodiversity and the spread of insect-borne infectious diseases that modern society faces. In particular, there are three major problems concerning insects in modern society. The lack of a science base to inform the response to loss of global biodiversity. Loss of people and educational courses studying insect-borne infectious diseases including emerging infectious diseases. Inefficient industrialization of unique insect technology seed technology from the university. This center consists of 3 units: insect taxonomy, environment and hygiene entomology, and creation of new insect industry. The aim of this center is to establish a global research and education center that can contribute to the well-being of humanity.

Aqua-Bioresource Innovation Center（ABRIC）

The Aqua-Bioresource Innovation Center (ABRIC) was established in 2020 as a facility attached to the Faculty of Agriculture with the aim of contributing to the promotion of the aquaculture industry and the security of protein supply in Japan and surrounding regions. Consisting of five units, we are promoting research related to the creation of a new comprehensive aquaculture industry covering areas from basic research and technological development to social implementation and distribution.

>Center for Advanced Instrumental and Educational Support, Faculty of Agriculture

The purpose of the Research and Education Support Center is to provide an efficient and sophisticated research and education support system related to research equipment, research facilities, and the genetic resources managed by the Institute; and to improve the level of research and education.

Hikosan Biological Laboratory

Mt. Hiko is a 1,200-meter-high mountain massif located near the border between Fukuoka and Oita Prefectures (Soeda-machi, Tagawa-gun, Fukuoka Prefecture), which is famous as a place where mountain priests once practiced asceticism, and was designated a national historic site in February 2009. On the other hand, Mt. Hiko still retains a natural environment with an extensive beech forest, which is rare in Fukuoka Prefecture, and has long been an important area for biodiversity, with studies of insects conducted there.
The Hiko Biological Laboratory was established in October 1936 as the Kyushu University Hikosan Biological Laboratory in a rich natural environment at an altitude of 670 meters. During its 90-year history, the facility has contributed to the study of the organisms inhabiting Mt. Hiko, and many research results have been achieved by Kyushu University staff, students, and visitors, and valuable specimens collected.
The collection comprises about 300,000 specimens of insects, 280 specimens of mammals and birds, 180 immersed specimens of reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and 900 specimens of shellfish and other organisms, some of which are on permanent display in the Specimen Display Room.
In addition, more than 50 new species of insects have been identified based on specimens collected at Mt. Hiko. This has been possible because of the large amount of natural forest remaining at the mountain and the possibility for long-term research while staying overnight at the Mt.Hiko Biological Laboratory.

Related Facilities

Environmental Control Center for Experimental Biology

The Environmental Control Center for Experimental Biology was established in April 2021 by the re-organization of the Biotron Application Center, which originated as the Biotron Institute (1966-2010) at the former Hakozaki Campus. The mission of this center is to provide environmentally regulated laboratory space for researchers in biology and advanced biosciences at Kyushu University. All of the facilities can be used for recombinant DNA experiments, and some of them are in compliance with the Plant Protection Act, Invasive Alien Species Act, or Guidelines for Proper Conduct of Animal Experiments in Japan. The center consists of 21 academic staff, including 2 fulltime scientists, and 19 concurrent researchers from several faculties in the university. These members use their expertise to support the facility users. The fulltime members are also engaged in educational program on phytotronics and advanced horticultural production in the Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences at the University.

Institute of Tropical Agriculture

The Institute of Tropical Agriculture at Kyushu University was established in 1975 as a joint-use facility of the university to conduct research and education in agriculture and the related environment in the tropics. In 1988, the Institute was expanded into two sections: Crop Production, and Land-Water Resources and Environment Conservation. Further restructuring in 2013 resulted in the establishment of three sections: Tropical Crops and Environment, Land-Water Resources and Environment Conservation, and International Development. Another aim of the Institute is to support international cooperation in agriculture and related fields. The Institute publishes the English research journal, Bulletin of the Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Kyushu University, on an annual basis. The scope and activities of the Institute all focus on the tropics and subtropics, and includes a number of topics. 1. Research crop production and environment, landwater resources and environment conservation, and international development; in order to promote sustainable agriculture and forestry, which could protect green environment, facilitate food production and achieve poverty eradication. 2. Conduct studies on the systematics and community ecology of hyperdiverse insects, with a particular focus on the use of ants as bioindicators of the environment. 3. Search for new crop and horticultural plants and develop culture techniques and practical cultivation methods. 4. Improve our understanding of disease and insect damage in crops, and clarify the relationship between the damage and the environment of the soil-plant system. 5. Clarify the actual situation and causes of soil and water problems in rural areas, such as soil and water pollution and soil erosion. 6. Conduct interdisciplinary studies in collaboration with domestic and foreign researchers on global issues taking local perspectives into consideration such as forest and climate change and the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Material Management Center

The Material Management Center was reorganized in April 2010 to promote and plan research and obtain funds for Kyushu University's collection of materials. The responsibilities of the Center include the management of this collection and its distribution to other research centers in accordance with the Material Transfer Agreement, as well as the management of transfers of materials from other institutes via the Center's website. The Center additionally studies the systems and rules that apply to material transfers, based on both international treaties and domestic laws such as the Convention on Biological Diversity / Nagoya Protocol, ITPGR (International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture) and the ABS Guidelines. The Materials managed include genes, proteins, microbes, cells, knockout animals and plants, seeds and other research tools.

Plant Frontier Research Center

The Frontier Research Center at Kyushu University is a Center for Common Research at Kyushu University established in April 2018, to lead comprehensive research and development of plants to overcome food and environmental problems that have become increasingly serious in this century. The center consists of 5 divisions focusing on basic and applied research of bioresources, basic biosciences, breeding, development of new breeding techniques, environmental control, and agribusiness.