Tetsuo Tommy Hamamoto is the Japan Director, for the U.S. Grains Council, a non-profit organization that promotes the use of U.S. corn, barley and sorghum and related products worldwide. In this capacity, Dr. Hamamoto is responsible for carrying out market development and trade activities in Japan.

Before joining the Council in August 2008, Dr. Hamamoto worked for Monsanto Company, serving as Public Affairs Lead of Japan since 2006. He was responsible for public affairs activities on agricultural biotechnology and its products.

From 1997 to 2006, Dr. Hamamoto served as an agricultural specialist at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo where he was in charge of coordinating rules and regulations between the U.S. and Japan on food safety and standards, including chemical residues and biotechnology. He had been a microbiology research scientist at the Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN) for 11 years, working on early days’ industry application of genetic engineering using bacteria.