Japan's Food Self-Sufficiency Rate and Its Challenges

Japan's Food Self-Sufficiency Rate and Its Challenges

As of 2023, Japan's food self-sufficiency rate stands at 38% on a calorie basis and 67% on a production value basis, the lowest among OECD countries. By comparison, France achieves 128%, the United States 113%, and Germany 91%, highlighting the severity of Japan's situation. In particular, the self-sufficiency rate for livestock feed is only 25%, with a large portion imported from the United States and Brazil. This reliance on imports exposes Japan to significant risks from price fluctuations and supply issues in international markets. Additionally, the overall grain self-sufficiency rate is 28%, with wheat at 13% and corn near 0%. Data from 2023 reveals that domestic wheat production reached only 900,000 tons, while imports amounted to approximately 5,700,000 tons.

Regionally, food self-sufficiency rates exceeding 100% are limited to areas such as Hokkaido, Akita, Iwate, Aomori, Miyazaki, and Kagoshima, with Hokkaido leading at 199%, Akita at 139%, and Iwate at 124%. In contrast, urban areas like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kanagawa have rates of 1%, 2%, and 5%, respectively. This regional disparity underscores urban dependency on extensive distribution networks for food supply.

Large food companies have made limited efforts to address this issue. For instance, Nissin Foods uses less than 10% domestic wheat in its products, and Seven & i Holdings incorporates only about 15% domestic ingredients in its private-label brands. These limited measures hinder improvements in Japan's food self-sufficiency rate.

Furthermore, the declining food self-sufficiency rate in Japan is attributed to the loss of local production and consumption food cultures. Reports highlight cases where locally produced agricultural products are exported to other regions, leading to reduced local consumption. Moreover, the risks of import disruptions due to large-scale disasters or deteriorating international relations are significant. For example, during the 2021 logistics disruptions, the supply of imported wheat drastically decreased, severely impacting the domestic market.

Contributing factors to this situation include the reduction of agricultural land and the aging of agricultural workers. Since the 1990s, the total agricultural land area in Japan has decreased by about 30%, currently standing at approximately 4,360,000 hectares. Additionally, the average age of agricultural workers exceeds 67 years, with a severe shortage of successors. Heavy reliance on imports remains a problem, with Japan's food import value reaching about 9 trillion yen in 2022, further undermining domestic agricultural competitiveness.

To address these challenges, the Japanese government is promoting local production for local consumption, utilizing fallow land, and fostering urban agriculture. It has set a goal to increase the calorie-based food self-sufficiency rate to 45% by 2030, strengthening regional agricultural development strategies and partnerships with companies and local governments. However, considering external factors such as climate change and uncertainties in international markets, achieving this goal will require innovative solutions.