Japan: Agricultural News Update (25 Nov. - 7 Dec. 2020)

Stay updated on the latest agricultural news in Japan, that we publish every two weeks. 

Covid-19 impact on agriculture in Japan

Amid the drop in demand for flowers in Japan, many florists and growers are still forced to throw out their plants because of the pandemic. An initiative is supporting the Japanese flower industry at Zuiryu-Zi, a Buddist temple designed as National Treasure.
Source: Cultivating Support for Japan's Flower Industry

Vegetable prices have dropped significantly due to the good harvests under favorable weather conditions and a slump in the restaurant industry amid the pandemic. On the other hand, meat prices are likely to remain high.
Source: Veggie prices plunge in Japan as restaurant industry slumps amid pandemic

A government survey shows Japanese firms cut wages or plan to lower wages. This situation is harder for the restaurant and hotel industries. Over 23% of hotels and restaurants lowered or planned to do so at least temporarily, compared with roughly 11% of companies surveyed in total.
Source: Wage cuts hit Japan food, hotel industries hard

Sustainability

Nine Japanese makers have declared that they will use all palm oil with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil certification by the end of the year. At present, the number of Japanese companies using RSPO palm oil is 221 jumped from only about 37 in 2015 due to the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. However, most Japanese companies still rely on the classification "mass balance" and "book and claim" - MB and B&C, not "identity preserved" or "segregation" certifications - IP and SG.
Source: Japan makers face slippery slope in procuring sustainable palm oil

Agricultural policy

The Diet passed a bill aimed at protecting intellectual property control over its fruits and vegetables. The revised seed and seedling protection law, expected to take effect in April, will prevent brand-name fruits and other newly developed plant varieties from the illicit outflow from the country. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries official said many developers belong to public institutions and rarely charge high permissions because their goal is to help promote domestic farming.
Source: Japan passes bill to protect intellectual property control for fruits

Investment

Fish wholesalers at Tokyo's Toyosu wholesale food market are using e-commerce to deliver fish straight to consumers amid the drop in demand for eating out. The sales area of the Toyosu market, where only chefs, fish retailers, and other professionals purchase their fish, are off-limits to general visitors. To reach out to the general public, wholesalers and intermediate wholesalers at Toyosu are boosting their online sales activities.
Source: Toyosu market's high-end fish going online

Infarm, one of the largest urban farming network, has reached an agreement with a subsidiary of Japanese conglomerate Sumitomo Corp. to put the German company's growing system for "fresh produce" in supermarkets. The company also expanded into the market through partnerships with East Japan Railway Company (JR East) and food retailer Kinokuniya in February.
Source: Infarm secures deal with Sumimoto for vertical farms in Japanese stores

Plant-based snack is available at Seven-Eleven, Japan's biggest convenience store chain.
To align with the snack healthier trend these days, Asahico, self-described “plant protein company” has released a tofu bar with 10 grams of protein (¥138 after tax), available exclusively at Seven-Eleven Japan stores across the country.
Source: Plant-based protein makes healthy snacking easy

Mitsui & Co., Ltd., one of the largest trading companies in Japan, has signed a share purchase agreement to take a 75% stake in Totam Seeds B.V. on November 25, 2020. Mitsui will partner with Prominent U.A.. Mitsui plans to supply tomato seeds developed by Totam and solutions based on Prominent's experience in the production to active greenhouse farmers around the world.
Source: Japan: Mitsui invests in Dutch breeding company Totam

News updates published earlier

Japan: Agricultural News Update (26 Oct. - 24 Nov. 2020)