Japan’s food self-sufficiency ratio falls to 37%, well below 2030 goal of 45%

Japan's food self-sufficiency ratio dropped to 37% for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2023, falling 1 percentage point from the previous year and falling short of the government's 45% target for fiscal 2030, the agriculture ministry announced on Friday. The 37% figure, among the lowest among developed nations, highlights Japan's susceptibility to food supply disruptions caused by ongoing geopolitical tensions, such as the Russia-Ukraine war and Middle East conflict.

The calorie-based ratio, which gauges the share of consumed food that is domestically produced, declined as rice consumption dropped and private-sector stockpiles grew, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Despite government efforts to increase the domestic production of crops like wheat and soybeans, which are heavily imported, Japan's ratio has stayed below 40% for over a decade.

The self-sufficiency rates of countries like Australia, Canada, France, and the U.S. exceeded 100% in 2023, while Germany's ratio was 81%, Britain's 56%, and Italy's 51%, as estimated by the ministry based on the latest data. Japan's self-sufficiency rate measured by production value increased by 2 percentage points to 66% in the last fiscal year, driven by higher domestic prices for rice and livestock products.

However, the agricultural sector still grapples with structural issues, including an aging workforce, lack of successors, and declining farmland. Changing dietary habits, with people consuming less rice and more meat and oil-based foods, have also impacted the self-sufficiency ratio. To meet the 45% goal, Japan intends to expand wheat and soybean farmland, relying heavily on imports for these crops, said Toshiaki Sasaki, planning director at the ministry's food security office.

The ministry plans to review progress towards the fiscal 2030 target later this month and consider additional measures if necessary, Sasaki added.