Award Ceremony and Research Institute Tour Held for the "2nd Food Education Program for High School Students: Group Discussion on Food Production" [Kumiai Chemical]

As a company supporting global food and agriculture, Kumiai Chemical conducted the "2nd Food Education Program for High School Students: Group Discussion on Food Production" from May to October 2025, aiming to think about issues related to food and agriculture together with the high school students who will lead the future. A total of 967 students from 249 groups participated in this project. After our company reviewed the submitted reports, a group from the Kyoto University of Education Senior High School was selected for the Excellence Award. On February 16, 2026, we invited the high school students who created the winning report to our chemical research institute (Shimizu Innovation Park/ShIP) to hold an award ceremony. The event included a company introduction, a tour of the facility, a presentation by the students regarding their report, a Q&A session, and an opportunity for interaction with our company executives and researchers. Many questions were raised during the Q&A, providing an opportunity for the students to deepen their understanding of research and pesticides.

[Images: Scenes from the award ceremony and research institute tour]

Click here to download the Excellence Award report: [PDF Link]

[Group Discussion Themes] Main Theme: Let's think about food production (Choose one from the following) 1) What would happen if pesticides disappeared from the world? 2) If you were a farmer, would you use "pesticides" or not? 3) How can we spread correct knowledge about pesticides to the world?

[Survey Results for this Project (Conducted among participating students, 261 valid responses)] Q1. Did your awareness of "pesticides" change before and after participating in this project? [Charts] Reasons for selecting "Changed": - I didn't have a very good image of pesticides before, but after having the opportunity to discuss and learn, I have come to have a positive image as well! - Until now, I had the image that the relationship between agriculture and pesticides was inseparable and that it was a binary choice of whether to use them or not, but I learned that reducing the amount of pesticides can reduce the burden on the environment. - I previously had an anxious image that they might be harmful to the body, but I realized they support our meals. - I learned that pesticide-free is not necessarily always better. - I had a strong image of them as something that "kills," but I learned that some promote growth, so I have a more positive image now. - I had a distant, scary image, but I felt they were closer to home. There was a lot I didn't know, and I found it interesting as I learned more. - I only had a vague image of them as "chemicals that protect crops from insects," but after learning about costs and the existence of resistant pests, I understood that they are not a panacea. - My impression changed from "everything is bad!" to "they are very important and good things if used correctly." - My grandfather is a farmer, and I had a strong image that pesticides were almost always necessary, but as I researched this time, I learned that there are many farming methods devised to not use pesticides. - I realized that because of pesticides, the food we eat is delivered safely and securely. - I had a bit of resistance toward pesticides, but I learned about various benefits through the internet and literature, and was able to form a good image. - I had never thought about the dangers of pesticides, but as I researched things I didn't know, I realized various things and thought they might be dangerous. - I learned that pesticides are not just chemical pesticides. Things derived from nature are also called pesticides! - I used to have a bad image of pesticides and thought using them was not very good, but the more I researched, the more I realized there are many fruits and vegetables I like that are grown thanks to pesticides, and my impression changed to a positive one.

Q2. How was participating in this project? (Multiple answers allowed) [Chart]

As food demand expands with the growth of the world population, and climate change and geopolitical risks become apparent, food-related issues are inseparable from humanity. To realize a world where no one struggles with food, it is important for each individual to think about "food." Through this project and other initiatives, our company will continue to contribute to the realization of a safe, secure, and prosperous society.