We are thrilled to welcome our newest research analyst, Hiroshi Yamagishi.
Hiroshi has a background in international rural development with experience living and working in Europe and Egypt. He completed his International Master of Science in Rural Development from Ghent University in Belgium and has also spent time studying in Slovakia and Italy.
Before Meros he worked for development consulting company NTC International researching agricultural development issued in various regions, including Indonesia and Tajikistan. Previously Hiroshi worked at the Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA) in Cairo. His work included regenerative agriculture and carbon credit projects, evaluating biodiversity efforts in Egypt and encouraging development cooperation between Japan and Egypt, engaging with stakeholders such as Heliopolis University and the Egyptian foundation SEKEM.
“I was so impressed by how Meros’s work covers all aspects of food supply chain systems. I deeply believe that it is critical to see food and agriculture industries as organic and interconnected systems. Understanding these complexities is the first step in creating more sustainable systems.”
His interest in sustainability within agricultural practices and supply chains is something he is looking to bring to our work in carbon markets, certification systems, aquaculture and other core topics of interest to our clients.
“I really hope to contribute to the Meros team with my experience in rural development and regenerative agriculture. I am looking forward to exploring more of the agri-food world and bringing diverse insights to the Meros network.”
Hiroshi is already involved in our food security projects on global grain production and trade with a focus on the Canadian grain industry. He has been with us less than a month and is already headed to Winnipeg and Toronto, Canada this month to meet with grain players. He is also doing research on GHG reduction strategies in Southeast Asia to support our work in Vietnam and Thailand on biochar and public-private cooperation initiatives.
Outside of work, Hiroshi is a coffee bean connoisseur, with a soft spot for Kenyan semi roasted beans and also especially enjoys Belgian and Middle Eastern cuisines. “I really love cuisines that use a variety of spices,” he says, a fact that will make him an immediate fit with the food-curious Meros team. His peperoncino pasta is apparently a great crowd favorite. He is also a fan of many Japanese foods. “Big love to omurice, tsukemen and oyakodon!”
Always interested in how food culture develops and changes, he has been observing vegetarian trends in Japan, “I am quite interested in how the vegetarian and vegan restaurant scene is developing in Japan.”
Hiroshi has a wide variety of interests including outdoor sports such as hiking, cycling and snowboarding, as well as traveling to explore local foods, museums and (when in Japan) hot springs. He has even taken on a new hobby – knitting – aiming to have new scarves ready for this winter. Perfect timing!
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