Japan's food self-sufficiency ratio fell to 37 per cent for the fiscal year ended March 31, representing a 1 percentage point decrease from the previous year. This figure remains below the Japanese government's target of 45 per cent for fiscal 2030.
The calorie-based food self-sufficiency ratio in Japan slipped due to declining rice consumption and increased private-sector stockpiles, according to Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Dietary shifts away from rice toward meat and oil-based foods have also impacted the ratio.
Japan's calorie-based food self-sufficiency ratio for the fiscal year ended March 31.
Despite government efforts to boost domestic production of imported crops such as wheat and soybeans, Japan's food self-sufficiency ratio has remained below 40 per cent for more than a decade.
The Japanese farm sector faces structural challenges, including an ageing workforce, a lack of successors, and shrinking farmland. The current ratio underscores Japan's vulnerability to food supply disruptions caused by heightened geopolitical tensions, including the Middle East conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Production value and global comparisons
In contrast to the calorie-based metric, Japan's food self-sufficiency rate measured by production value rose 2 percentage points to 66 per cent in the last fiscal year. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries attributed this rise to higher domestic prices for livestock products and rice.
Japan's food self-sufficiency ratio is among the lowest of developed economies. While Australia, Canada, France, and the US have ratios above 100 per cent, Germany's food self-sufficiency ratio stood at 81 per cent in 2023, Britain's at 56 per cent, and Italy's at 51 per cent.
Government response
Japan plans to expand farmland for wheat and soybeans to achieve its 45 per cent goal.
Toshiaki Sasaki, the planning director at the ministry's food security office, said the ministry will review progress toward the fiscal 2030 target later this month.
