Japan News Update #36 (6 -19 Sept, 2022)
Stay updated on the latest agricultural news in Japan, that we publish every two weeks.
by Yuki Sano
Health topics in fruits & vegetables and drinks
Based on 20-year study a Japanese research group, including researchers from Yokohama City University and the National Cancer Center, was able for the first time in Japan to show a relationship between the consumption of fruit and vegetables and the mortality rate of diseases (in particular cardiovascular diseases). The researchers found that a consumption of at least 300 grams of vegetables and 140 grams of fruit daily lowers risk of death from cardiovascular diseases with 8-9%.
Source: Japanese study: High fruit, vegetable consumption reduces risk of death
Coca-Cola Japan is collaborating with Kirin Holdings, the Japanese beverage firm, to create a health drink containing LC-Plasma, a Kirin-developed postbiotic. Although there have been partnerships in vending machine management services, it is uncommon for large rival beverage companies to develop products together. Coca-Cola Japan plans to put LC-Plasma into three of its brands.
Source: Coca-Cola Japan and Kirin in tie-up to develop health drinks
Strawberry news
Oishii Farm, an indoor farm startup located in a New York City suburb, produces strawberries using widely used agricultural practices in Japan and an artificial intelligence-powered pollination system. Despite charging $20 for a bag of eight large strawberries, the farm has been in high demand at New York restaurants and upscale retailers in Manhattan. It intends to build plant factories in additional cities while expanding its current locations to add tomatoes, melons, and other products to its list.
Source: High-end Japanese strawberries selling like hotcakes in NY
The Japan Plant Factory Association (JPFA), a nonprofit organisation based at Chiba University, has announced to hold its first Strawberry Course for Plant Factories with Artificial Lighting (PFALs) in English from October 13 to 31, 2022, and is receiving applications. JPFA is devoted to advancing the plant factory industry and controlled-environment agriculture in and outside Japan through academia-industry collaborations.
Source: Japan Plant Factory Association Holds Strawberry Course In October, Press release
Sustainable protein shift in fish and food waste
Regional Fish, a genome-editing smart aquaculture startup, announced it conducted a 2.04 billion yen ($15 million) capital raising in 2022 to establish a sustainable mass production system for marine products. The company will build the largest fish farming plant in Japan, expand overseas, and improve breed improvement technologies such as genome editing and smart farming.
Source: Smart fish farming startup raise money
National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) developed a new method to convert cabbage core powder into new food products using a 3D printer. Cabbage cores account for about 15% of the total volume of cabbage and are discarded in large quantities during the food production process. This technology to create food products from powder and paste is expected to secure sustainable protein and reduce food waste.
Source: NARO develops 3D printer to turn cabbage cores into new food products
Food industry trends: hard to recover overseas tourists and to remain low price in PB
Japan has gradually eased admission requirements for foreign tourists. However, several businesses that cater to international visitors claim that it is insufficient to recoup. More than 4,000 businesses have gone out of business due to the epidemic. Restaurants were the worst impacted, with 607 going out of business. There were 508 in the construction business, 209 in food wholesalers, and 163 in hotels.
Source: Tourist restrictions keep Japan businesses in bind
Despite rising ingredient and shipping costs, major retailers and food producers strive to keep their private-brand products affordable. As a result, private label sales have increased dramatically. Ito-Yokado, for example, has simplified package design by utilising fewer colours to cut printing costs to offer items at a lower price than competitors. By doing business directly with a factory in Italy, Aeon was able to reduce intermediate costs for its frozen pasta.
Source: Supermarkets, food manufacturers battle to keep private brands cheap
Government-related movements
The Japanese government announced that the G7 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting will be held in Miyazaki city, Miyazaki prefecture in 2023. Hiroshima city, Hiroshima prefecture, will host the G7 summit in May 2023. Given that Miyazaki Prefecture is one of the leading agricultural and livestock prefectures in Japan, " With the local economy in the doldrums due to the pandemic and high oil prices, this will be an opportunity to revitalise," said the prefectural governor.
Source: Government decides to hold the 2023 G7 Agriculture Ministerial Meeting in Miyazaki city
Kochi Prefecture, engaged in the digital transformation of agriculture, has launched a project in collaboration with farmers joining the industry, academia, and government to promote the visualisation of growing environment data. The project plans to conduct Internet of Plants (IoP) research on eggplant, cucumbers, bell peppers, and garlic chives to demonstrate at production sites. The IoP cloud system, SAWACHI, will be used to check the greenhouse environment and plant growth conditions.
Source: Industry-academic-government-farmer seminar started in Kochi agriculture DX
Organic Conference Japan, a Japanese organisation consisting of organic farmers, distributors, processors, Etc., hosted a Public-Private Partnership Creation Conference to promote organic farming with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and Ministry of the Environment (MOE). This conference will be held regularly to strengthen public-private partnerships, create a business through activated private sector participation, and provide policy recommendations on organic farming together.