The visit began with a welcome address by Professor Mitsuru Tsubo, Director of ALRC and Deputy Director of IPDRE. He provided an overview of the Center's history and international engagement, highlighting its organizational and interdisciplinary efforts to address dryland challenges through research. 

Participants then toured the Arid Dome, exhibition hall, and various facilities and equipment at the Center. They compared crops cultivated at the Center with those from their home countries, discussed climate classifications displayed in the exhibition in relation to their own regions, and actively exchanged views. Many expressed interest in cultural and lifestyle differences across countries. Questions raised included "How does Japan promote the development and dissemination of improved crop varieties?" and "What are the challenges and benefits of collaborative work between university-based and external researchers?"

This training program, implemented by Tottori University, is designed for engineers and researchers engaged in land and water resource management in various countries. Its goal is to strengthen the capacity for sustainable agriculture through effective management of land, water, and energy. Over four months starting in July, participants will undergo technical training at Tottori University and other institutions both within and outside Tottori Prefecture. 

This year's participants come from eight countries: Algeria, Bangladesh, Botswana, Mauritania, Pakistan, Tunisia, Turkey, and Zimbabwe.