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The Law Concerning the Appropriate Treatment and Promotion of the Utilization of Livestock Manure ("Manure Utilization Law") comes into full effect on November 1. As of that date, the storage of manure in open-air stacks and uncovered pits is prohibited, and livestock farmers are required to use compost sheds or simple compost bed to allow appropriate management and treatment of livestock manure. Even after the law comes into full effect, prefectural governments and other organizations concerned say they plan to continue offering guidance to farmers subject to the law and patrolling farms, to ensure compliance. Meanwhile, some farmers have reduced the scale of their operations to a size of herd that places them outside the scope of the law, or have ceased farming altogether. As little progress has been made in the utilization of manure, farmers and government bodies are under pressure to find a solution. The Manure Utilization Law has been partially in effect since November 1999, but now comes into full effect at the end of a five-year period of grace. It affects approximately 66,000 livestock farmers (as of March 31, 2004). Among prefectural governments the general assessment is that, although some farmers will only install facilities after the Law has come into full effect, if those who intend to install facilities in the future are included, "the majority" of farmers affected by the law, are set to install facilities. However, a conspicuous number of farmers appear reluctant to install the required facilities or are making do temporarily with simple equipment such as waterproof sheeting because of a shortage of funds. In the future, these farmers will have to install new facilities that can be used on a permanent basis. In some areas, the storage of manure in open-air stacks on grassland or in fields for the growing of feed crops is a widespread practice, and the organizations concerned are urging livestock farmers to spread the manure as soon as possible. One key issue for the future is measures to promote the distribution of manure. From FY 2005 onwards, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) plans to monitor the supply-demand situation for livestock manure by prefecture and draw up plans for its utilization according to local conditions. MAFF believes that promoting the utilization of livestock manure is the basis of the promotion of recycling-oriented agriculture. In urban areas and other places where it is difficult to make use of manure, MAFF says it is considering carbonization or fermentation to produce methane gas. The Manure Utilization Law applies to farmers with 10 or more head of cattle, 100 or more pigs, 2,000 or more chickens, or 10 or more horses. Abnormal Prion Proteins Detected in Tissues Other Than SRMs The Prion Disease Research Center of the National Agriculture and Bio-Oriented Research Organization (NARO) National Institute of Animal Health (NIAH) announced at the International Symposium on Prion Disease, held at Sendai on November 1, that abnormal prion proteins, the pathogen in BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy) had been detected in peripheral nerves such as the sciatic and tibial nerves, and in the adrenal glands of a 94 month-old cow that died of BSE in March 2003. (The infected animal, discovered in the northern island of Hokkaido, was Japan's 11th case of the disease.) It is the first time that abnormal prions have been found in tissues other than "specified risk materials" (SRMs). The Prion Disease Research Center will be conducting tests to determine whether or not the prions detected in these new tissues are infectious. In other advanced cases of BSE discovered to date, abnormal prions have been found in the trigeminal nerve ganglia and other nervous tissues, and have been confirmed as infectious. The quantity of abnormal prions discovered in this case was quite small in comparison to the quantities found in the trigeminal ganglia. The Prion Disease Research Center will consider whether or not the tissues in question should be designated as SRMs on the basis of an evaluation by the Food Safety Commission. Natural Disasters Cost Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Around 835 Billion Yen The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) revealed on November 10 that the total cost of damage to Japan's agriculture, forestry and fisheries caused by natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes this year, will be in the region of 835 billion yen. As of November 8, provisional estimates put the cost of damage caused by Typhoon No. 23 at approximately 204.6 billion yen. The damage caused by the Chuetsu Earthquake (in Niigata Prefecture) is estimated at 96.8 billion yen. MAFF commented that, even setting aside earthquakes and considering typhoons and heavy rains alone, the damage has been "on a scale rarely seen in recent years" (Management Improvement Bureau Management Improvement Policy Planning Division). The damage caused by Typhoon No. 23 breaks down as 26.5 billion yen's worth of damage to vegetable, fruit and other crops, 4.7 billion yen's worth of damage to plastic hothouses and other farm facilities, 83.3 billion yen's worth of damage to agricultural land and infrastructure, 69.4 billion yen's worth of damage to woodland and forestry facilities, and 20.6 billion yen's worth of damage to fisheries. Recent years in which high levels of damage to agriculture, forestry and fisheries have been recorded include 1993, when a severe cold spell caused 1 trillion yen's worth of damage, and 1991, when typhoons caused approximately 800 billion yen's worth of damage to apple crops, etc. The total cost of damage this year is set to exceed that recorded in 1991. MAFF to Pursue EPAs with Asian Countries in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries In conjunction with the Cabinet reshuffle of September 2003, the Cabinet identified "active pursuit of economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with Asian countries" as a basic policy direction. APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) +3 summit meetings are scheduled for late November this year, and Japan needs to step up the pace of the EPA negotiations in which it is currently engaged. In view of this situation, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) on November 12 set out a policy of actively pursuing the negotiation of EPAs with Asian countries. The six key aims of the policy are as follows. On this basis, MAFF will make further efforts to promote the formation of EPAs: (1) To stabilize Japan's imports of food and promote greater diversity of import sources (2) To secure imports of safe food that can be consumed with peace of mind (3) To promote exports of "Japan brand" agricultural, forestry and fisheries products and foods (4) To improve the business environment for Japan's food industry (5) To relieve poverty and other problems in farming, mountain and fishing communities in Asia (6) To protect the global environment and promote sustainable use of resources Hokkaido to Introduce First Local Government Ordinance Regulating Cultivation of GM Crops The Hokkaido prefectural government on November revealed the basic thrust of the regulations governing the cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops that are to be a of central pillar of the "Food Safety and Peace of Mind Ordinance" it plans to introduce by the end of this fiscal year. The regulations governing the outdoor cultivation of GM crops are to be set out as a separate "GM Crop Cultivation Ordinance" attached to the "Food Ordinance". Experimental outdoor cultivation by research organizations will be required to notify the prefectural governor in advance. Outdoor cultivation for commercial purposes by farmers will be strictly controlled and subject to the approval of the prefectural governor. The "GM Ordinance" will have two main elements, governing experimental outdoor cultivation by research organizations and commercial outdoor cultivation by farmers. With regard to cultivation by research organizations, the Hokkaido prefectural government, while recognizing that genetic modification technology "has the potential to be useful in the future", makes clear provision for (1) the prevention of cross-fertilization and mixing of GM crops and ordinary crops and (2) obtaining the understanding of local consumers and producers. Research organizations will also be required to hold meetings to explain their proposals to local residents, etc. before commencing cultivation. A "Food Safety and Peace of Mind Committee", to be composed of up to 15 consumers, scientists, etc., will investigate and discuss proposals by research organizations from scientific and other perspectives. On the basis of the Committee's report, the prefectural governor may issue final "instructions or orders to modify plans for cultivation" to research organizations. Farmers planning to engage in outdoor cultivation will be required to hold meetings to explain their plans to local communities and to apply to the prefectural governor for approval. Japan and US Reach Agreement on Conditions for Resumption of Trade in Beef On October 21-23, the Japanese and US governments held director-general level talks in Tokyo on the resumption of trade in beef between their two countries, and on October 23 agreed that, subject to domestic approval procedures based on scientific principles in either country (in the case of Japan, this includes deliberation by the Food Safety Commission), they would resume two-way trade in beef and beef products. In outline, the points agreed are as follows: 1. The United States will establish a marketing program that allows the resumption of some trade for an interim period (interim trade program). The operational details of the Beef Export Verification (BEV) Program to be operated by the US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service will be further worked out by Japanese and US experts. The main points are as follows: - All SRMs (specified risk materials) must be removed from animals of all ages. - All beef products, including offal and variety meats must be derived from cattle verified as being no older than 20 months. - All cattle included in the BEV Program and destined for export to Japan must be traceable to live cattle production records proving that they are no older than 20 months at the time of slaughter. - Experts from both countries will continue to consult on carcass grading and quality attributes with a view to verifying physiological age and determining whether or not carcasses are those of animals no older than 20 months. 2. Consultations between Japanese and US experts will continue, to allow both sides to gain a fuller understanding of the pathogenesis and patterns of BSE (bovine spongiform encephalopathy). 3. The BEV Program will be reviewed for modification, as appropriate, in July 2005. MAFF Forecasts Global Recovery of Cereal Supply and Demand On November 8, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) released a forecast of the global supply of cereals. MAFF expects an increase of over 10% or more in the volume of wheat and maize produced in 2004/05 as compared with last year, and an increase of over 20% in the volume of soybeans. The increase in production of all three crops is likely to be higher than the growth of consumption, and inventories, which have been under pressure, are set to recover. - Wheat Production volume is likely to rise by 10% to 616 million tons. Although production is likely to fall in the United States, it should see a substantial recovery in the EU and elsewhere. Global consumption of wheat is likely to rise by 3% to 605 million tons. Consumption has exceeded production for the past four years, but the prospect is that the situation will soon be reversed. Global trade in wheat is likely to fall by 3%, owing in part to the fall in exports by the United States. End-of-year inventories are set to rise by 8%, easing the pressure to some extent. - Maize Production is likely to rise in the United States, the EU and elsewhere, boosting global production by 10% to 684 million tons, the fifth increase in a row. Consumption is likely to increase by 5% to 678 million tons. In the United States, demand for maize for livestock feed and ethanol production purposes is expected to rise. Demand is also set to rise in the EU and China. Trade is likely to fall slightly, to 76 million tons. Exports from China are expected to fall by almost half. End-of-year inventories are likely to recover to the 100 million ton level. - Soybeans Production is likely to rise in the United States and Brazil, boosting global production by 20% as compared with the previous year, to 229 million tons. Until recently, the United States accounted for the largest share of global production, but production is becoming polarized between the United States and the two South American countries of Brazil and Argentina. As the volume of soybeans used for oil is rising in the United States, Brazil and China, consumption is expected to increase by 8% to 208 million tons. Demand from China is growing and global trade is expected to rise by 15%. End-of-year inventories, which were under pressure at 39 million tons at the end of 2003, are set to recover to nearly 60 million tons. MAFF Asks China to Admit Japanese Persimmons, Peaches, Strawberries, Grapes The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) revealed on November 11 that it has asked the People's Republic of China to admit imports of four categories of fruit from Japan — persimmons, peaches, strawberries, and grapes. China is enjoying rapid economic growth and is importing growing quantities of agricultural, forestry and fisheries products. Once China's plant quarantine issues have been resolved, MAFF hopes Japan will be able to market fruit to the increasingly affluent middle class. Last year, China introduced a new system, applicable to categories of fruit that China has not imported to date, or of which it only imports very small quantities, under which the decision whether or not to admit imports is made on the basis of a plant quarantine evaluation. This October, MAFF submitted the documentation required for the evaluation of the four categories of fruit in question and formally asked China to allow their importation. To date, Japan has been authorized to export only two categories of fruit to China: apples and nashi [oriental pear], but MAFF has positioned the four categories in question as "the first installment of an expansion of exports of fruit to China" and in future intends to request that China admit imports of melon, watermelon, cherries and kiwi fruit. The value of Japan's exports of agricultural, forestry and fisheries products to China grew by more than 1000% between 1989 and 2003, rising from $31 million to $300.9 million. An exhibition of Japanese agricultural, forestry and fisheries products hosted by MAFF in Shanghai in September this year was well received and generated a great deal of business. This fiscal year, MAFF plans to support an expansion of exports of fruit, etc. to China, through a project under which permanent shops selling and offering the opportunity to taste Japanese products are to be created within Chinese department stores. Japan and Philippines Reach Broad Agreement on Agricultural Products in EPA Talks On November 13, vice-minister level talks between Japan and the Philippines with a view to the formation of an economic partnership agreement centering on a free trade agreement resulted in a broad agreement on agricultural products. Sugar, which Japan positions as a "sensitive product", is to be treated as an "exception", effectively postponing the phasing out of its tariffs, which is to be discussed once more in four years' time. The two sides reached a compromise on four other items — chicken meat, bananas, pineapples, and yellowfin and skipjack tuna — in which the Philippines has expressed a strong interest, through the setting of low-tariff quotas and the reduction of tariff levels. Joint Japan-China Study Group to Examine Impact of FTAs JETRO (the Japan External Trade Organization) announced on October 17 that it had established a joint study group with a research institute affiliated to the Chinese State Council, to examine the potential impact on the Japanese and Chinese economies of a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries. It is the first time that a joint study group on FTAs has been established by Japanese and Chinese government-affiliated organizations. The study group is to investigate how the conclusion of an FTA would affect the structure of industry and other aspects of the economy and publish its findings by December 2005. Japan is currently engaged in negotiations with a view to the conclusion of FTAs with the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. As yet, there are no plans to hold government-level negotiations for a bilateral FTA with People's Republic of China. However, JETRO believes that the steady growth of economic exchange between Japan and China makes it highly probable that the debate on the need for an FTA with China will intensify over the next few years, and has decided to establish the joint study group with a view to creating a basis for discussion. Japan and Chile to Establish Joint Study Group Preparatory to FTA The government revealed on November 13 that it plans to establish a joint study group with the Republic of Chile, preparatory to the conclusion of a free trade agreement (FTA) with that country. Chile has asked Japan to conclude an FTA and Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who will be visiting Chile to attend a summit meeting of APEC (the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum) later this month is expected to express Japan's agreement when he meets Chilean President Ricardo Lagos for talks. The joint study group will serve as a preparatory body before the two governments enter into formal negotiations. Japan has until now prioritized the negotiation of FTAs with Asian countries. The initiation of talks with Chile, one of South America's largest economies, is part of the next stage of its FTA strategy. Chile has already FTAs with many countries and groups of countries, including the United States, the European Union, South Korea, and the Central American nations. Business leaders in Japan have been calling for an FTA with Chile as a tariff of 6% on imports from Japan means that Japanese companies have low competitiveness in that country.
A World First: Technology for the Generation of Hydrogen From Food Waste Researchers at Sapporo Breweries Ltd., Shimazu Corporation and Hiroshima University have developed the world's first technology for the generation of hydrogen from food waste such as the bread crusts thrown out by bread factories. It is hoped that the technology will be of use in the development of energy sources for fuel cells. When breaking down food waste prior to disposal it is common to use microorganisms that generate hydrogen. The new technology is more efficient than the conventional generating system in which the methane gas generated during the breakdown of food waste is converted to hydrogen in a refining vessel and the researchers say it allows the generation of hydrogen that contains no sulfur. In the future, the researchers say it may be possible to apply the technology to agricultural and forestry waste such as wood chips and scrap. Sapporo, Shimazu and Hiroshima University began their joint research in 1999, commissioned by the National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences. Sapporo handled the development of the fermentation technology, Shimazu the development of the equipment used, and Hiroshima University the research on microorganisms. Osaka University Researchers Discover How to Eat Lots Without Getting Any Fatter A team of researchers at Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine led by Professor Iichiro Shimomura and Professor Junji Takeda have discovered, in experiments on animals, that curbing enzyme activity in fatty tissue can lead to weight loss and lower blood sugar levels. It is hoped that the discovery can be applied to the treatment of obesity and diabetes. The team's findings were published on October 18 in the electronic version of American medical journal Nature Medicine. The research team focused on an enzyme known as PTEN, found in every organ of the human body, which is closely involved in cell proliferation and the prevention of cancer among other processes. The researchers bred mice whose fatty tissues alone did not contain this enzyme. The mice without PTEN had voracious appetites. Although they had the same body length as normal mice of the same age, they weighed 25% less and had a quarter of the fatty tissue by weight. Their body temperature was about 1°C higher than that of normal mice. The researchers believe they were slower to accumulate fat because they give off the energy they consume as heat. When the mice were injected with insulin, which decreases blood sugar, their blood sugar level dropped to a level lower than that of normal mice, suggesting that they also had more active sugar metabolism. Curbing the activity of PTEN in other organs such as the liver may accelerate the growth of cancer. Professor Shimomura said that if the enzyme can be suppressed selectively, in fatty tissues alone, it may be possible to use the discovery in the treatment of lifestyle-related diseases. JCMPWA Develops Net-Based Trading System for Fruit and Vegetable Wholesalers The Japan Central Markets Produce Wholesalers' Association (JCMPWA), an organization made up of 98 companies trading on central markets around Japan has developed an Internet-based trading system known as "Seika Market" [Fruit and Vegetable Market] and is to begin operating the system in December 2004. Fruit and vegetable producers can use the system to enter into a transaction contract with the wholesaler who offers the highest price before shipping their produce. The JCMPWA hopes the system will help it to fight back against the growth of distribution that bypasses the markets by major supermarket chains, etc. The system is intended not only to improve convenience to the user but also to enhance the ability of wholesalers to assemble consignments. It is designed to facilitate transactions between wholesalers and the prefectural headquarters of JA Zen-Noh (the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations) and JA Prefectural Economic Federations of Agricultural Cooperatives, but as conditions in production areas require, it also allows transactions with their offices located in major centers of consumption outside prefectures and with JA primary cooperatives. Most transactions conducted on wholesale markets are consignment sales, in which a commission is charged, but the Seika Market system addresses only transactions involving the sale of produce purchased outright, in which the wholesaler bears the risk of price fluctuation.
Minor Cereals Under the Spotlight: Hidden Potential At one time banished from the table, minor cereals are helping to regenerate local economies and coming under the spotlight once more. Against a backdrop of growing interest in health issues and a new awareness of the evils of overeating, the value of minor cereals is growing in terms of both their nutritional value and their cultural significance. Producers, processors and distributors of minor cereals recently came together to form the Japan Minor Cereals Association. Their aim is to ensure that minor cereals do not end up as a temporary fad, but become a permanent part of the Japanese diet, to encourage diversity in Japanese food culture and to promote the health of the nation. To this end, low-cost production, stabilization of distribution channels and the development of unique products will be essential. Just after the Second World War, around 100,000 hectares of farmland in Japan was devoted to the production of minor cereals, centering on three major crops: awa [common or proso millet], kibi [Italian or foxtail millet] and hie [Japanese or barnyard millet]. Today, these three crops cover only 355 hectares. Nevertheless, in this health-conscious age, the drive to expand and improve growing area is gathering momentum, especially in Iwate Prefecture. In the area covered by the JA Iwate Hanamaki agricultural cooperative, 150 people from seven villages/eight producers' associations have established a Minor Cereals Promotion Council, and created a 70-hectare minor cereals development zone. The project is attracting attention as a unique approach to the paddy field farming vision. The JA Kita Iwate cooperative is encouraging production by indicating its purchase price in advance. This year, the cooperative plans to buy the yield of 10.6 hectares, approximately 2.5 times as much as last year. At Ninohe, a town in the area covered by JA Kita Iwate, products such as ramen ["Chinese-style" noodles served in soup], gyoza [a type of dim sum Chinese dumpling stuffed with minced pork] and miso [fermented soybean and cereal paste used as a soup stock] are under development. Iwate's prefectural government is also stepping up its support and recently opened Japan's first genetic resources center for minor cereals. In addition to preserving minor cereals as a genetic resource, the center will undertake systematic research & development work such as the development of varieties with greater appeal to the consumer and varieties suited to mechanized cultivation. There has always been a latent demand for minor cereals from consumers with allergic conditions such as atopic dermatitis, but the new health consciousness has generalized demand. Minor cereals are proving popular as a rich source of trace elements and dietary fiber, in which the modern diet tends to be deficient. In repentance of past sins — over-eating and having abandoned the traditional diet in favor of fast food — growing numbers of consumers are turning to new food cultures such as the Slow Food movement, for which minor cereals are the ideal material. To the generations that did not experience the food shortages during and immediately after the Second World War minor cereals are fresh and novel. For this reason alone they have great potential. The establishment of the Japan Minor Cereals Association has led to a new interest in developing the potential of minor cereals. The Association is a child of the activities of the Slow Town Federation, which seeks to promote local regeneration using the principles of the Slow Food concept. It promotes the growing of and education regarding minor cereals, undertakes research into their functions and the development of recipes and processed foods derived from minor cereals, seeks to foster a healthy market, and pursues measures to improve production, processing and distribution. Its secretariat is managed by the Mitsui Global Strategic Studies Institute, whose research focuses on local regeneration. The market for minor cereals is already said to be worth in excess of 10 billion yen. Given that minor cereals are ideally suited to the needs of this health-conscious age, there is potential for further substantial growth, depending on the efforts of the Japan Minor Cereals Association's to foster a healthy market. The first priority must be to pursue research into the nutritional functions, etc. of minor cereals, and draw attention to their merits. Another issue is the development of ways of eating minor cereals suited to the needs of the age, and of recipes and processed food products for younger consumers. Needless to say, safety and peace of mind are paramount. "Tastiness" is important, too. There is also a need for the development of low-cost production technology that is economical of labor. |