2025 Volume 21 Issue 1 Pages 10-15
Japan relies on imports from abroad for most of the materials needed for agricultural and livestock production, such as fertilizer and feed. Agricultural and livestock industries in Japan were built on the assumption that fertilizer materials and feeds would always be available for import, but since 2020, fertilizer materials prices have risen sharply due to changes in the international and the situation in resource-holding countries. Whereas during the phosphorus crisis in 2008, only phosphorus prices rose sharply, this time all fertilizer material prices rose sharply, which is fundamental. On the feed side, livestock industry in Japan still relies on foreign sources for about 80% of its concentrate feeds.
Livestock waste contains components that can be used as fertilizer. With 80 million tonnes of livestock waste per year, we can be considered to have ample fertilizer resources. This also comes from foreign feeds.
Some livestock farmers are working with arable farmers to use livestock manure for feed crop production to achieve regional recycling. These examples suggest that recycling resources within the region is necessary for the sustainability of agriculture and livestock production. Although it is impossible to produce all of our countryʼs foods and feeds domestically, the continued promotion of regional resource recycling is considered important for food security.
