SUSTAINABILITY
While economic development has made the livesof human beings more convenient, the pressure thathuman activity places upon the Earth is at a tipping
point. According to research on “planetary boundaries,”
published in 2009, human beings have crossed fourof the nine boundaries within which humanity candevelop and thrive. These four boundaries are climatechange, biosphere integrity, land system change, andnitrogen and phosphorus flow. Agriculture, forestry,and other land uses (AFOLU) account for 24% of
greenhouse gas emissions, and are a major factor inthe loss of biodiversity, consequently having a severe
impact on the Earth’s environment. As these emissions

Source: Stockholm
Resilience Center( J.Lokrantz/Azote
based on Steffen etal.2015)

could result in destructive change, the immediate
reform of food systems across the world is vital to thefuture of the planet.
To join the effort, in May Japan developed a national
strategy to transform its food systems and enhanceboth sustainability and productivity potential: theMeasures for Achievement of Decarbonization andResilience with Innovation (MeaDRI). In addition toa goal of zero carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuelcombustion in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries by
2050, the strategy calls for concrete actions, including
promoting the input of materials and energy withlower environmental impact and the establishmentof waste-free processing and distribution systems. To
achieve these goals, Japan has drawn up a technologicaldevelopment roadmap and is supporting disseminationof innovative technologies. The government is alsoendeavoring to involve both producers and consumers
in these processes.
Japan’s initiative will provide a leading model for
new sustainable food systems in areas affected by the
Asian monsoon climate, which have different weather
conditions and food production infrastructure fromthose in most Western nations. Countries in the
Asian monsoon region, including Japan, share warmand humid climates, and have common farming
characteristics; their food production is based
mainly on rice and many of their farms are small
operations. This particular characteristic will allow
Japan’s innovations for sustainable farming to have

TRANSFORMING

FOODSYSTEMSFOR A SUSTAINABLE PLANET
AND PEOPLE
As the global environment faces multiple crises, caused by climatechange and the loss of biodiversity, Japan has worked out a strategy
to rebuild food systems for a sustainable future.

Professor ISHII Naoko said, “The extentof the crisis caused by food systems is notwidely recognized in Japan, but we will be
proactively involved in global rulemaking
through our Sustainable Food Systems
Strategy.”

applications elsewhere in Asia as well. Indeed, Japanis developing technological advancements to boost
productivity on its limited amount of arable land,
while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from ricepaddies and analyzing soil with artificial intelligence.
Organic farming, such as automated weed control,will be another groundbreaking innovation.
The United Nations Food Systems Summit will
be held in September to discuss the global issue ofsustainable food systems. One summit attendee willbe Professor ISHII Naoko of the Center for Global
Commons, former CEO of the Global Environment
Facility (GEF), which supports environmental
sustainability efforts made by developing countries.
Elaborating on Japan’s role, she said, “Japan imports
60% of its food, and is deeply connected to global
supply chains. Rather than only looking within ourborders, we also need to look at global supply chainsand must make efforts to visualize and quantify theenvironmental and social impacts including childlabor, that we have thus far largely been unable tosee. Quantification will show us where and how
much our food system has anenvironmental repercussion,
guiding us toward asolution. By visualizing
By putting into practice
innovations that reduce theenvironmental impact ofagriculture, Japan will create aleading model for sustainable
food systems in the Asianmonsoon region.

this impact, consumers can make their own choices onwhat to eat in their daily lives, becoming an integral
part of the solution themselves.” She added, “Throughan active contribution to global rulemaking processes,
Japan can help build truly sustainable food systems
worldwide.”
The Food Systems Summit will provide a venue forthe world to share visions about the future. Professor
Ishii concluded, “It is often said that the food system
is broken now. At this summit, participants must
look beyond their own interests to engage
in substantial discussions on how wecan protect the future of the Earthand all its people from falling
into a crisis by transforming thecurrent system.”
According to United
Nations estimates, the world’spopulation will reach around10 billion by the year 2050.
Through the Sustainable
Food Systems Strategy, Japanis determined to lead in theformulation of international rulesthat will allow our planet to support eachof those 10 billion people.