Category Archives: Food & Agriculture

Japan to relax age-based testing on cattle after BSE scare

TOKYO, June 6 — Nine years after the last outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, commonly known as mad cow disease, Japan is likely to relax testing requirements for the disease, informed sources said. The agriculture ministry will advise an advisory council on June 8 to consider to relax the mandatory testing requirements for cattle, from the current 48-months of age and older, to 96-months and older. If the council approves, the change will likely be implemented in fiscal 2019. That would reduce the number of cattle bound to undergo the testing to about one third of the current levels, according to the agriculture ministry. The ministry conducted 66,403 testing on … Continue reading

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Women of farm coop in Ehime promote local products as escorts at FC Imabari’s home game

IMABARI, June 12 – Female members of JA Ochiimabari, an agricultural cooperative in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture, appeared at a soccer game on June 10 as escorts for local soccer team FC Imabari, the first such attempt by the farm coop which sponsors the team. Twenty-two women walked into Arigato Service Yume Stadium in Imabari packed with more than 2,000 fans, each holding hands with 11 FC Imabari players and holding local products in season, such as tomatoes and eggplants, on the other hand. They hope that promoting local agricultural products while supporting the local soccer team of the Japan Football League will contribute to boosting the town. “It was like … Continue reading

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Japan’s Gulf Food Fund buys UAE’s meat wholesaler company

TOKYO, June 4 — A Japanese private equity fund has acquired the United Arab Emirates-based Country Hill International (CHI), a leading meat importer and distributor, for an undisclosed amount. The Gulf Japan Food Fund (GJFF), the Japanese fund that promotes Japanese agricultural exports, acquired the CHI, with an aim to boost the exports of halal wagyu beef to the Middle East market. The CHI is a meat wholesaler company that specializes in importing meat products from New Zealand and Australia. It distributes them to high-end hotels, restaurants and major supermarket chains in the UAE. The move comes as the high-priced Japanese delicacy, such as wagyu beef, has become increasingly popular … Continue reading

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Births in Japan hit a historic low in 2017 since records began

TOKYO, June 2 — The number of Japanese children born in 2017 was the lowest level since records began in 1899, deepening a demographic crunch with implication for everything including a reduced food demand and agriculture. Last year, 946,060 babies were born in Japan, according to preliminary data released by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on June 1. The number of newborns fell by 30,918 from the previous year. On the other hand, there was a record high of 1,340,433 deaths in 2017, the ministry’s data showed. Overall population decline in 2017 was the highest on record at 394,373. With the working-age population decreasing, Japan is grappling with … Continue reading

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Australia lifts ban on Japanese beef imports after 17 years

TOKYO, May 30 — Australia has lifted a 17-year ban on beef imports from Japan which could boost Japanese exports to the lucrative meat market. Shipments of eligible Japanese beef have been allowed to enter Australia without any age limit conditions, the Japanese agriculture ministry said on May 29. Australia banned import of Japanese beef in 2001 due to an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, in Japan. Tokyo had been pressing Canberra since then for resumption of beef exports, and the two discussed food safety conditions for imports. Australia’s lifting the import ban is a critical step to boost Japanese beef exports, as Australians … Continue reading

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