The promotion of game meat utilization represents an attempt to create new value for underutilized resources in rural areas． In promoting this attempt， it is necessary to design a food system from the perspective of the design of a production system based on the collaboration of stakeholders in rural areas and a distribution and consumption system based on rural-urban interactions. The purpose of this paper is to clarify how a game meat food system was designed by focusing on the rules, customs, and institutions in the process and to examine how the food system and new endogenous development are related. An interview was conducted in Wakasa and Chizu in the eastern region of the Tottori prefecture. The results are as follows. At first, the game meat food system was designed in three steps: 1. A redesigning of a collection system at a slaughterhouse. 2. A creation of a production system based on coordination with the stakeholders in rural areas. 3. The development of markets by creating new stakeholders in urban areas based on urban-rural interactions. In addition, through these interactions, the game meat from rural areas could be appreciated by urban consumers. This appreciation deepens the recognition of regional resources when it comes to rural areas. As a result, rural consumers become new stakeholders in the food system. The interactions involved in the design of the game meat food system serve as an opportunity to enhance rural endogeneity. Therefore, game meat utilization can be developed by enhancing rural endogeneity through the creation of a circulation system based on food system design and endogenous development.

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According to the framework of risk analysis, monitoring and reviewing policy measurements are required in food safety, and in this regard, Japan introduced a policy evaluation system in 2001. This study analyzes the current situation and problems of policy evaluation in food safety by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The results show that setting objectives and indicating performance measurements must be improved, and current policy evaluation does not provide the necessary information for reviewing policies and measurements.

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The aim of this study is to elucidate the relationship between food purchasing behavior and the consumption of nutrients and various food groups. Our research focused on the influence of store format preferences on food purchasing behavior, using food purchase history data. We categorized consumers' store format choices into four clusters. However, our analysis noted no significant differences in nutrient or food group intake among the clusters. This finding challenges the prevailing notion that convenience stores and dining out are likely associated with unhealthy dietary patterns.

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Half of single mothers in Japan face economic poverty, yet little is known about their dietary habits. This study comprehensively analyses the dietary norms and practices of single mothers in Japan, with a specific focus on differences between the poor and non-poor, as well as distinctions between single mothers and the general population. Data were obtained from in-depth interviews with 53 single mothers living in urban areas. Despite their economic hardships, their dietary standards were not compromised. However, due to gendered ideals, their norm-practice gaps were greater (resulting in a decrease in well-being) compared to the general population.

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This study investigated how consumers evaluate and are motivated to purchase locally produced agricultural products (LPAP) at supermarkets using semantic differential (SD) and best–worst scaling (BWS). The result from the structural equation modeling estimation of SD scales demonstrates that the past purchasing experience of LPAP affects how consumers evaluate them. However, regarding the preference parameter for LPAP purchasing motivation, the random parameter logit estimation on BWS reveals significant effects of understanding relevant key words related to environmental friendly measures in agriculture.

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This paper aims to characterize post-purchase evaluations of organic compared to non-organic agricultural products by applying text mining to consumer reviews on an e-commerce mall. We employ coding analysis to identify perspective differences and document scaling analysis to extract elements demonstrating divergent evaluation tendencies. The analysis revealed that health and safety expectations and interest in farmers were associated with positive evaluations of organic products, while environmental protection was a minor consideration. The evaluation criteria for attributes such as appearance and smell differed from those for non-organic agricultural products.

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This paper focuses on two types of information collected by new technologies, UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) and field sensors, and examines their influence on the evaluation of rice by ethically-minded consumers. It does so through taste experiments developed to address virtual bias. The results show that a well-maintained paddy landscape was positively evaluated and increased WTP (Willingness to Pay). Flat paddy fields were rated more highly than valley-bottom paddy fields as a landscape suitable for rice cultivation, though there was no statistically significant difference in the WTP between them. The sensor information provided after the landscape information increased the WTP.

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This study gauged the competence of auditors by analyzing the first draft of an audit report for a fishery ecolabel originating in Japan (Marine Ecolabel Japan certification). The reporting of aquaculture certification has improved significantly since the introduction of a peer review system. The results of the principal component analysis showed that audit experience and the number of peer reviews received were important factors in the improvement of reports. The variation in the understanding of the standard among auditors with less experience in preparing reports suggests that support for less experienced auditors is required.

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This study investigated the network structure of the wholesale market systems in the Tohoku region, using a network analysis of transfer volumes for vegetables and fruits. Our analysis revealed that a network centered on the Sendai market has long been established for vegetables and fruits, but a network for fruits disappeared in 2020. Additionally, our findings suggested that network density and degree centrality may be changed due to an increase in bilateral trading and disparity among markets.

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30 countries enacted export restriction measures in the agriculture and food sector in 2022. As a result, food prices have increased and destabilized. It is concerning to the international society that these unstable food prices will have a negative impact on food security in least developed countries. To ensure national food availability and stability, these countries have implemented these measures, however, they would have a negative impact on the food security in other countries. Therefore, it is urgently required that FAO’s Food Security Indicators cover an indicator for risks from the export restriction measures in the agriculture and food sector.

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Petroleum products such as heavy oil A, produced from crude oil, are important for agricultural production. The impact of increasing oil prices on agricultural production costs is unclear. This study analyzed the impact of increasing crude oil import prices on agricultural production costs since 2005 using input-output analysis. Comparing the rate of increase in agricultural production costs between 2005 and 2015, this study found that only the sectors of wheat, institutional vegetables, and flowers and flowering plants saw a reduced rate of increase in agricultural production costs. Institutional vegetables and flowers and flowering plant sectors use heavy oil A. Hence, these sectors are changing their production structure to reduce dependence on crude oil.

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Based on case studies, this paper clarifies the food systems for eco-feed beef cattle. The results of the study were then used to examine the issues involved in establishing a food system for eco-feed beef cattle. As a result, the following four points were clarified: (1) The need for stable production of eco-feed for beef by eco-feed producers, (2) Secure sales channels from farmers to wholesalers, consumers, etc, (3) Securing wholesalers and retailers with sales capabilities, (4) Definition of eco-feed beef cattle or specification of eco-feed feeding amount.

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