Abstract
Alternative agriculture that aims to add high value and be environmentally friendly is gaining attention. This symposium learns from advanced examples of social farming and considers the future of the food system that corresponds to alternative agriculture. Social farming is making headway in Japan with policy support from the perspectives of 1) therapy and 2) employment of persons with disabilities in the agricultural sector. New trends include adding high value, branding, and universalizing agriculture or care farming. These trends are examined on the basis of advanced examples. We discuss how social farming can lead to the sustainability of agriculture, food systems, and rural areas.
