Japan wil circulaire voedselvoorziening in 2050
Japan is set to embark this summer on a new, multi-year R&D project to develop circular food production systems by using biological measures, e.g., utilizing microbes and insects, by 2050. It is a long-term project which aims to establish system prototypes by 2030 and disseminate them over the 20 years between 2030 and 2050. The project will be implemented under goal #5 of the “Moonshot R&D Program” launched by the Japanese government to stimulate disruptive innovations which address societal challenges.
Moonshot
Earlier this year the Japanese Government announced the 6 goals of their new ambitious Moonshot Program to promote disruptive innovations and tackle societal challenges. The Moonshot R&D Program sets ambitious goals and concepts, and promotes challenging R&D projects based on revolutionary concepts that are not simply the extension of existing technologies. It focuses on three important social issues:
- overcoming the aging society and low birthrate;
- restoring Earth’s environment while cultivating urban civilization;
- and pioneering new frontiers in science and technology.
The government allocated a budget of more than JPY 100 billion Japanese yen (roughly 830 million euro) to sponsor promising R&D projects for five years starting from 2020, with the possibility of being extended up to ten years.
Moonshot goal #5: a sustainable global food supply
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is administrating Moonshot Goal 5: Creation of the industry that enables sustainable global food supply by exploiting unused biological resources by 2050. Three targets has been identified by MAFF:
- Technical development of the circular food production systems by biological measures, e.g. utilizing microbes and insects, by 2050;
- Development of the technical solutions for eliminating food loss and waste and for achieving both healthy life and sustainable food consumption by 2050:
- Evaluation of the technical achievements and discussion on the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) matters will be done by 2030, for global spread of the technology by 2050.
The Bio-Oriented Technology Research Advancement Institution (BRAIN) of NARO is appointed to be responsible for the implementation of R&D activities under Moonshot goal #5. BRAIN is currently working to secure human resources to be involved in research. In April, Dr. Kazuhiro Chiba, President of Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, was selected as the Project Director who oversees the entire operation.
Outcome goal 2050 Moonshot #5
Circular agriculture and the policy dialogue with the Netherlands
Moonshot #5 is interesting for the Netherlands, as important circular issues are: biodiversity, food waste, and automation in agriculture. Japan aims to create a soil environment in which plants can grow well by using microorganisms and without chemical fertilizers. It also aims to convert forest residues into feed, food and biofuel by using unexploited functions of insects. The optimal soil ecosystem to generate agricultural products suited to various environments should be created by year 2050, thereby enabling zero use of chemical fertilizers and resulting in a drastic reduction of greenhouse gases. Furthermore, the government plans to develop 3D food printing and cooking systems to convert surplus agricultural products and household food residue into health-and environment-conscious edible food.
More information
BRAIN (Top page Moonshot R&D Program)
Moonshot International Symposium December 18, 2019, report, Innovation for future agriculture – satisfying both food production and environmental conservation, https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/stmain/mspaper7.pdf
MAFF, Research and Development Concept, March 2020, https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/english/moonshot/concept5_en.pdf
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