Japan News Update #30 (7-26 June, 2022)

Japan’s New Trends in Food Policy

The Japanese government will endorse a proposal debated at the World Trade Organization summit to reduce agricultural and fishery subsidies, Arata Takebe, Japanese state minister of agriculture, forestry and fisheries (MAFF), said. Since Japan extensively subsidises its farmers, the government may be pressed to lower subsidies if an agreement is reached.
Source: Japan to Support WTO Proposal to Curb Farming Subsidies

According to a government survey, 37 of Japan's 47 prefectures intend to cut cooking rice acreage and switch to wheat and soybean this year amid increasing grain prices due to Russia's war with Ukraine. Demand for wheat and soybeans grown in Japan is already high. In contrast, rice consumption and expenditure in Japan have decreased since fiscal 1962, as eating habits change, and due to depopulation. The government has promoted crop conversions by offering farmers subsidies.
Source: High grain prices prompt Japan farmers to grow wheat rather than rice

Plant-based Fuel and Upholstery

In response to consumers' rising concern about animal welfare, automakers are replacing leather upholstery in premium vehicles with plant-based materials. For example, Toyota Motor says its Lexus EV cars will include seats and steering wheels manufactured from sugarcane and other plants.
Source: Plant-based upholstery replaces leather in new luxury cars

Biocoke, solid fuel from vegetable waste, is gaining interest as one technology that might assist in accelerating the transition to a low-carbon world. Japan's restaurant industry (Mos Food Services Inc., a Japanese burger chain, and Starbucks Coffee Japan Ltd.), the traditional ironware industry (Oitomi, an ironware business in Iwate Prefecture), and Kindai University are engaged in using biocoke as an alternative fuel. At the same time, research continues to reduce costs and bring it into mass production.
Source: Japanese firms look to plant-based, carbon-neutral 'biocoke' fuel to cut CO2 emissions

Non-Agro Company Entering into Agriculture

The Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center of National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) and Bandai Namco Research Inc., a Japanese video game developer Bandai Namco subsidiary, have developed a pasture management approach that uses drones and AI deep-learning to detect leguminous grassland. With this technology, a more efficient fertiliser application is expected to become possible.
Source: NARO and Bandai Namco developed AI managing pastures, Press Release

Asahi Shokuhin, a Japanese food wholesaler, has announced that using Hitachi Digital Solution for Retail can reduce the ordering process from approximately 4 hours to around 30 minutes, shortages by about 40%, and returns by up to 30%. Since September 2021, Asahi Shokuhin, in collaboration with Hitachi, has been operating a system that forecasts demand and presents recommended order values for ordering operations at distribution warehouses.
Source: Asahi Shokuhin Introduces Automatic Ordering System

Initiatives toward Environmental Conservation

Agricultural fertiliser capsules, invented in Japan to save farmers time and effort, have been identified as a cause of ocean pollution since they leak out of the fields after usage. In January, the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (ZEN-NOH) and others declared that they intend to phase out the use of fertilisers covered with plastic membranes by 2030. However, creating a feasible alternative shell for fertilisers is still a long way off.
Source: Plastic fertiliser shells singled out as ocean pollutants

Startups in Europe and Brazil will produce organic solar cells, a flexible power source. They expand applications for renewable energy, such as powering indoor smart devices. Japan's Ricoh has plans to produce them on a smaller scale starting in fiscal 2023. Organic semiconductors from Japan's Kyushu University were combined with Ricoh's material technology to create a prototype.
Source: Solar power anywhere: Lightweight organic cells aim beyond rooftops

Japan’s Less-Sugar and Less-Salt Food Market

Ezaki Glico has launched three types of pasta and sauces under its SUNAO brand, a line of products with adjusted sugar content. By enhancing staple food products, Glico aims to promote the idea of "proper carbohydrate" and related products that are habit-forming rather than "sugar restriction". In addition, Well Be Food System Co., a Japanese medical and school food service firm, developed a technology to remove salt while retaining the umami component. This technology can incorporate salt reduction into caregivers' meals in ageing Japan.

Source: Glico’s New Sugar-less Carbohydrate Staple Food, Developed Low-salt Technology while Maintaining Umami

Japan’s Food Import: Meat stock and Substitution of Potato

Estimated meat stocks at the end of April were up 0.3% yearly to 485,203 tonnes. While chicken stockpiles were reduced due to shrinking imports from Thailand and a surge in consumption, beef and pork inventories swelled significantly due to increased imports. Inventories of pork rose 4.1% to 192,212 tonnes. Imports were 108,816 tonnes, an increase of 10.3% over the same month the previous year. Low-cost pork cuts from Spain were actively imported. The estimated availability fell 1.8% to 172,770 tonnes.
Source: Japan’s Beef and Pork Import Expanded at the end of April

The bulk of frozen potatoes converted into fries and sold at large chains in Japan are produced in the United States, and a paucity of potatoes has put fast-food restaurants in a bind. Amid the shortage, Japan's Burger King offers the "almost-potato set," which comprises a burger and a side of crispy ramen noodles.
Source: What's a burger without fries? Burger King finds creative solution amid potato shortage