An Analysis of Policies to Enable Local Governments to Invigorate Local Food Markets

Abstract

This paper aims to examine what kind of policies is needed to enable local governments to create and invigorate local food markets, treating the sustainable development of the market movement as an indispensable objective.

As a specific case study, the paper takes up the case of the campaign launched by Mie Prefecture under the title, “Mie Products Priority Day Campaign”. At the same time as clarifying the campaign’s diffusion mechanism, the paper also verifies, by such means as the analysis of a questionnaire aimed at participants in the campaign, whether the diffusion mechanism is actually functioning effectively. Through this verification, aimed at encouraging private sector entry into the local food market movement, building a bridge between grassroots movements and businesses was identified as needing to be included in local government policy.