03 Dec

Hiroshi Yamagishi joins as our newest research analyst – welcome!

Posted by Team Meros in News

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!

26 Sep

Meros’ fall research assistant Nodoka Kudo has arrived – welcome!

Posted by Team Meros in News

Nodoka is about to finish his Master of Public Policy degree from the Hertie School in Berlin, Germany and had previously completed his undergraduate degree at Keio University with a degree in Environment and Information Studies. Nodoka has had a fascinating background and experience growing up in various countries, including graduating from high school at an international school in Tanzania and spending his school years in Slovakia, Malaysia and the US.

“I was initially drawn to Meros by their international team working in the intersection between Japan and abroad. Having an international background myself, this company profile and working environment was ideal for me,” he explained. “More importantly, however, I applied because the work they do felt exciting. Because Meros is a rather small company with passionate people, I thought I could learn a lot while make some meaningful contributions.”

Nodoka has already joined a major Meros project related to carbon insetting standards, and he is helping us better understand EU funding and programs related to GHG emissions within key supply chains, such as dairy and meat.

He is luckily well-prepared to jump into these projects. “I have been interested in social and public issues throughout my studies, and I am interested in joining projects related to sustainability, particularly pertaining to carbon credits and the initiatives being taken to reduce GHG emissions. I hope to gain more practical insights about sustainability through these projects.”

To further dig into issues of carbon reduction and sustainability, Nodoka will also be working on an independent research project related to comparing current methods for measuring soil carbon, from satellite data to soil sensors, in order to identify the advantages and disadvantages of different technologies and the relationship between accurate soil carbon measurement and carbon markets.

Nodoka will also get a chance to work with some of our other teams, including our seafood team which is about to launch into interviewing industry experts on the potential for farmed eel and other premium farmed seafood in the Japan market

After many years out of Japan, Nodoka is looking forward to being back in Tokyo and exploring the city – and its foods. “I enjoy cuisines from around the world but I tend to have sustained preferences for dishes that have a good balance of tastiness and healthiness. A standard Japanese teishoku set with rice, miso soup and grilled fish, is one of my go-tos. That said, lately, I have definitely been indulging rather excessively in Hakata tonkotsu ramen!”

10 May

Welcome to our summer research assistant, Tsukasa Iinishi

Posted by Team Meros in News

Meros is excited to welcome our new summer research assistant, Tsukasa Iinishi!

Tsukasa has just finished his third year at Northeastern University’s D’Amore-McKim School of Business in Boston, with a focus on corporate innovation and economics. He has also been working at the Antimicrobial Discovery Center at Northeastern as a research assistant to support experiments, particularly related to DNA technologies and antibiotic testing.

“I was interested in working at Meros because of the unique environment where everyone in the company is bilingual and values Japanese and English,” he says. “As a Japan-based company, Meros works with both Japanese and international governments and private companies. I want to be involved in as many projects as possible to get exposed to diverse projects and clients and learn new things.”

At Meros, Tsukasa is eager to develop a wide range of professional skills during his time with the team. “I hope to learn and improve my desktop research skills, interview skills, data analysis skills, and other skills that are necessary to become an effective consultant.”

This summer, Tsukasa will also be working on an independent research project related to the Japan market for blue carbon credits – carbon stored in coastal and marine ecosystems, like mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes. The project will allow him to explore the intersection of environmental sustainability and business, and to contribute to Meros’ broader work in climate and ocean-related topics.

Tsukasa brings a mindset of curiosity to our team. “Any topic is interesting to me,” he says. “From small conversations that happen throughout the day, to my personal project, as well as real projects that we are working in the company, every conversation and work that I do is an opportunity to learn new things and that drives my curiosity.”

Outside of work, Tsukasa enjoys exploring new foods and places. “I love almost all cuisines,” he says. “I obviously like Japanese cuisine, as well as Korean and Chinese, especially Sichuan. I also really enjoy Vietnamese food such as pho and other Southeast Asian food.” He’s also a coffee enthusiast and travel lover: “I love to go sightseeing in nature as well as historic buildings and sites. I also enjoy drinking coffee, so I am always interested in going to cafes and trying coffee from all over the world.”

He will have a chance to try cafes around the world after he completes his summer work with Meros – he will be joining the Japan-based international organization Peace Boat as an on-board interpreter, for the ship’s upcoming 121st Global Voyage around the world, as it promotes world peace and human rights during its four-month journey.