Acceptance of technical intern trainees is expanding due to the agricultural labor shortage. Career development is a significant issue for trainees; however, how to provide effective career support remains unclear. In particular, the fact that outsourced contracting involves repetitive work is disadvantageous for skill acquisition, making career support even more critical. This study, conducted through interviews with one JA (Japan Agricultural Cooperatives) in Kagoshima Prefecture, found that JA actively provided career support, such as Japanese language learning support and career aspirations interviews. The technical intern trainees generally evaluated the JA’s career support positively. The findings suggest that JA’s career support effectively aids skill acquisition and career advancement, potentially leading to the retention of motivated trainees.

This study aims to clarify the efforts and local food regeneration process of a new type of community engaged in practical activities related to local food and discuss the key points and organizational characteristics that can promote these practices. A case study of Food Hub Project Inc., established in 2016 in Kamiyama, Tokushima Prefecture, as a new Local Food Community (LFC), identified 12 local food regeneration activities in the LFC. The regeneration process was based on 1) gradual gathering of information on local food through collaborative activities; 2) reframing the value of local food at the planning stage; 3) creating the subject by becoming an actor itself, connecting with new actors, or supporting conventional actors; and 4) ensuring a sales place. The characteristics of this LFC that realized such regenerations were assignment of people with specialized skills to each section, inclusion of local residents, and the diversification of its businesses.

Community-based group farms are expected to become sustainable farm businesses that preserve local farmlands and communities. It is important to explore whether these farms can meet these expectations. This study aims to identify business expansion and downsizing and its factors in community-based group farms by conducting a statistical analysis using data from a questionnaire survey of 145 farms in Yamaguchi Prefecture. We found several factors that affect farms’ orientation toward expansion or downsizing. Specifically, younger members’ participation in farm decision-making and employment of young employees significantly positively influence farms’ orientation toward expansion. However, profitability has no significant influence on farms’ orientation. Farm size and diversification negatively influence farms’ orientation toward downsizing. Population changes and non-farmers’ participation in agricultural-resource management in the farms’ located area positively affect farms’ orientation toward expansion.

New entrant farmers are attracting attention as key players in sustainable agriculture. However, owing to their small-scale production and geographical dispersion, they often have limited access to distribution systems. This study investigates the practices of constructing a vision-based system, focusing on Sakanotochu Ltd., a company that has established a distribution system for new entrants. We demonstrate how the company’s founder developed the vision and how this vision was translated into standards for agricultural products and the Box scheme. These standards include input standards and explain how to interpret the environmental impacts and images of preferred producers. In addition, the Box scheme allows various small-quantity procurements and promotes consumer understanding. That the scheme embodies this vision is apparent from the fact that the partner farmers are mainly individual producers, especially new entrants.