The 6^th Bilateral Symposium between Kasetsart University and the Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, or abbreviated called the 6^th KU-KUGSA Bilateral Symposium, on the theme of “Food, Environment and Life for the Next Generation: Sustainable Development Goals” was organized during December 6 – 7, 2023, at Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus in Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand.  The KU-KUGSA bilateral symposia have been held every year since 2015 to further advance the collaboration; the 1^st, the 3^rd and the 5^th symposia were hosted by KU, and the 2^nd and the 4^th ones were hosted by KUGSA.  After the 5^th bilateral symposium in 2019, both universities could not hold any events or academic activities fully in person because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  This year, Kasetsart University was willing to host the 6^th bilateral symposium to celebrate its 80^th foundation anniversary and to make known its annual event “Kaset Fair @ KPS”, held during December 1 – 11, 2023, in Kamphaeng Saen Campus.  There were 15 KUGSA delegates taking part in the 6^th bilateral symposium.  In addition, Professor Eiji Nawata, Ph.D., Director of Kyoto University’s ASEAN Center, together with his colleague from Kyoto University’s ASEAN Center, attended the opening ceremony of the 6^th KU-KUGSA bilateral symposium.

On December 6^th, the welcome speech and opening remarks for the 6^th bilateral conference were delivered by Assistant Professor Sukanya Rattanatabtimtong, Ph.D., Assistant to the President for Research, Innovation and International Affairs Kamphaeng Saen Campus, and Associate Professor Kampanat Pensupar, Ph.D., Vice President for International Affairs, respectively.  At the plenary session, Professor Kanapol Jutamanee, Ph.D., Director of Kasetsart University Institute for Advanced Studies gave a plenary talk on “Strengthening collaboration through the reinventing university program”, Professor Hirokasa Higuchi, Ph.D. gave a talk on “Introduction of Kyoto University and further collaboration between KU-KU”, and Ms. Sakiko Imaeda, Officer of KUGSA, gave an introduction on “Educational collaboration between KU-KU”.  Then, participants attended parallel sessions, where 20 researchers gave presentations about their research work.  Parallel Session I: Agriculture and Food was moderated by Jukkrapong Pinyo, Ph.D., Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, while Parallel Session II: Environmental Science and Technology was moderated by Chutchamas Kanchana-Udomkan, Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaend Saen.  At the end of the day, KUGSA participants joined in an online streaming talk, hosted by the Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, on “The End of Disease?” given by Professor Dr. Roger D. Kornberg, a Nobel Laureate for Chemistry of the School of Medicine, Stanford University, the U.S., and glimpsed the amazing atmosphere of Kaset Fair @ KPS.  On December 7^th, KUGSA participants also had a half-day visit to Kaset Fair @ KPS showcase, including highlights of agricultural research and innovations of the university, private companies and industrial partners.