Category Archives: Food & Agriculture

  The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries held a case study meeting on Tuesday, October 15, to report on specific examples of coordination between health care and agriculture, with the aim of developing the agricultural sector as a potential industry. It is the first time for the ministry to hold such a meeting in line with the government’s growth strategy of bolstering innovation and increasing value in agriculture through sector-to-sector cooperation. Some 200 people attended the meeting. “It is very important for the agricultural industry to coordinate medical and health care sectors in order to create added value,” said Agricultural minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. “We will take this opportunity as … Continue reading →

  Amid tight global supplies of feed corn due to drought in the United States, researchers of Central Research Institute for Feed and Livestock said Thursday, October 10, that feed corn imported from the U.S. can be replaced by those imported from Argentina and Brazil, which have been on increase in recent years. In a symposium held in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, Kazuyoshi Matsubara, a researcher of the Ibaraki-based institute run by the National Federation of Agricultural Co-operative Associations (JA Zen-noh), reported on the comparison of nutritional components in corn grown in different countries. Although they differ little in terms of gross energy or the amount of protein contained, the research … Continue reading →

  The government’s regulatory reform council, chaired by Sumitomo Corp. Senior Adviser Motoyuki Oka, decided on Thursday, September 12, 49 items to discuss in five working groups. Eight items are related to the agricultural sector, including the role of Japan Agricultural Cooperatives and regional agricultural committees, and relaxing requirements for setting up agricultural enterprises. The council plans to reach conclusion by the end of this year, earlier than the previously-set deadline of June next year, in order to reflect the results in a plan to be created by the headquarters for the revitalization of the agricultural industry and regional economies, headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The council adopted the … Continue reading →

Kazuhiro Takamatsu  – Binh Giang, Vietnam In Vietnam, one of the member countries of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free-trade talks, Japanese firms are stepping up efforts to teach farmers ways to grow short-grain rice, or Japonica rice, for exporting. They are looking into future opportunities for Japan-bound exports, as they believe Japan will not be able to avoid lifting its tariff on rice amid increasing pressures from other TPP negotiators. If rice having the same quality as those grown in Japan is imported to Japan, domestic rice farmers could suffer even severer damage than the government estimates. The government should reconfirm the significance of protecting key agricultural products from tariff cuts. … Continue reading →

A Tokyo-based firm has developed various varieties of medium-size and mini tomatoes which include five times as much proline and lycopene as large-size tomatoes. Both components have skin quality improving effects, as proline is a main component of collagen and lycopene suppresses formation of melanin, a cause for spots and freckles. Pioneer Ecoscience Co., a seed company, started selling a package of three varieties in June, targeted at women who care highly about the quality of their skin. The firm was expected to hold a sales promotion campaign in Tokyo on Saturday, September 14, and Sunday, September 15, together with Tokyo City Seika Co., a fruit and vegetable wholesale dealer … Continue reading →