Japan’s Food Self Sufficiency Drops to Lowest Figure in 10 Years
Posted by Bill Belew on August 13th, 2007 in Japan | No Comments
Japan's self-sufficiency in food is creating concern. For the first time in 10 years, the self sufficiency of Japan's food is below 40%.
One big concern is Japan's reliance on Chinese imports.
The portion of Japan's food produced at home came to 39% in the year to March.
"Poor weather led to poor crops while the declining consumption of rice has failed to stop," said an official at the ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
Japan depends on China as its second largest foreign supplier of
food.
The U.S. is the biggest supplier.
The Japanese are turning away from rice, a longtime staple of their diet.
Annual rice consumption per head is now around post-World War II lows.
Different foods are entering Japanese kitchens and working women are opting for quicker-to-serve bread or pasta meals.
Give the country another generation or so and they will be fighting obesity much like the west already is.
