Although Hida beef is a well-known brand, it is not known to have been minted in the Hida region: villages in the region began to improve on this beef in the late 1920s, and conscious efforts were made throughout Hida only in the early 1950s. This paper aims to summarise the history of the Hida beef project, following the French terroir.
The first is s to create peculiar breeding and improvement methods. First, the creation of high-quality pure Tajima-type bulls and cows was promoted, followed by the introduction of Hiroshima-type and Okayama-type bulls with large bodies, and promoted interbreeding between these lines. In the mid-1970s, to formalise the process, Wagyu breeding guidelines and a group breeding project plan were established. These were grounded by the prefectural stud farm in Takayama. The second was developing a system for slaughtering and carcass auction trading (production area meat centres and local meat wholesale markets) within the production area. Carcass grading details are essential data for determining genetic ability tests, and in addition to fair trade, the ability of stakeholders, including farmers to confirm the results of improvements has had a major impact. The third was the establishment of local governance organisations that supported this project; the Hida Livestock Promotion Council, which began in the 1970s; the Hida Wagyu Improvement Committee, which brought together all agencies and experts; the Hida Wagyu Production Council, which organised producers; the Hida Beef Production Council; and the Hida Livestock Promotion Association. Thus, within geographical proximity, social and organisational proximity was created through discussions on breeding and improvement.
However, there have been no comprehensive records since 1986, when Hida beef became the brand name associated with the entire Gifu Prefecture. Furthermore, it is difficult to consider the whole of the large Gifu area as a coherent terroir. Based on the above, we will now present the final assignment.

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In Japan, geographical labelling standards for alcoholic beverages were institutionalised in 1994 under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. This study makes the following considerations regarding sake: First, it compares the Geographical Indication (GI) system approach of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), which deals with agricultural products, and the National Tax Agency, dealing with alcoholic beverages and examined whether the latter system can protect the names of products as intellectual property. Second, to explore the regional nature of sake, a comparison was made with French wine, the origin of the GI system and has long been protected under the Appellation d’Origine Controlee (AOC). Third, the production standard (product specification) documents for registered sake were analysed to determine whether the link between the characteristics of sake and its region of origin is sufficiently described and whether the regional character of sake is clearly defined. The results show that, due to environmental conditions in Japan, rice and water can be obtained anywhere in the country, rice is highly storable and mobile, making it difficult to map regional characteristics to product characteristics, and this is particularly true for prefecture-based sake rather than region-specific sake.

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The inheritance of traditional food unique to a region and the diversification of food for improved nutrition and health are new global challenges. This study examines the awareness of traditional food and food intake among women in an Indonesian rice-farming village, revealing the following: First, rice and rice dishes, potatoes, vegetables, beans, and fish, which were healthy and easy to obtain, were perceived as traditional foods that have long been consumed in their region and ethnic group, while wheat products, meat, and milk and dairy products were perceived as modern food; their excessive consumption was associated with poor health. Four orientations toward food were observed: co-eating, health, low-cost, and local. Second, the participants’ expenditures and food costs, and whether they produced their own agricultural products, livestock, or fish, differed. The mean frequency of consumption of potatoes was lower than that of meat. The median frequency of consumption of some traditional food groups such as rice and rice dishes, beans, vegetables, and fish were higher than those of some modern food groups such as wheat products and milk and dairy products. Third, the group with high food diversity had higher mean scores indicating local orientation, a higher median frequency of consumption of vegetables and beans, and a higher percentage of raising livestock than the group with low food diversity. Continuing to carry on traditional food customs to improve nutrition and promote food diversification is necessary. As the sample size was small and the survey was conducted during a specific period of the year, increasing the sample size to clarify the position of the survey cases in Indonesia and examining the utilization of livestock and its relation to food diversity is needed.

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This study aims to identify the success factors of businesses related to agricultural production, which are expected to be an initiative for increasing farmers’ income. To this end, we analyzed the Chiba Prefecture 2020 Agricultural Census of individual data, and find that less than 10% of farmers were engaged in related businesses, with most in retail trade and agro-processing. The following farm characteristics were also correlated with sales of related businesses: engaging in export and renewable energy generation, growing horticultural crops, having young business owners, and recruiting successors and female workers.

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This study used qualitative research methods to identify the processes and factors affecting the continuation of traditional food preparation in the life processes of four women in a Kenyan rice-farming village. The following conclusions were drawn. First, all the respondents consumed traditional food and learned to prepare it to improve their cooking skills before marriage. After marriage, they recognized the health benefits of traditional food and continued to prepare it along with non-traditional food. Second, their attitudes differed toward traditional food and environments, such as food production.

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This study examines the distribution and sales of organic tea production cooperatives while focusing on location-based factors. Organic green tea has traditionally been produced in mountainous areas; however, production has recently increased in flat regions. We conducted interviews with four cooperatives to examine survival tactics for mountainous regions. Findings indicate that flat regions can meet domestic and international demand with superior production efficiency. Several production cooperatives, tea merchants, and exporters collaborate in mountainous areas to enhance sales and distribution.

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The sudden rise in chemical fertilizer prices has highlighted the need to focus on utilizing sewage sludge as fertilizer; however, consumer understanding is required as current utilization rates remain low. Consumer awareness regarding fertilizers differs across countries; thus, it is necessary to clarify consumer evaluations of sewage sludge fertilizers in Japan. This study’s survey results employ a price sensitivity measurement, showing that sewage sludge fertilizer is rated lower than other fertilizers, and evaluations differ depending on consumers’ knowledge. Thus, improving consumer understanding can increase demand. Furthermore, appropriate risk communication becomes an essential area for future study.

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This study investigates the factors determining dietary diversity among Vietnamese farmers using the Vuon Ao Chuong (VAC) systems. Specifically, it explores how agricultural diversity, measured by the number of crop categories and the Simpson Index of Diversity (SID), influences dietary diversity. This study reveals that agricultural diversity positively impacts dietary diversity, particularly through increased home consumption. Increased home consumption enhances dietary diversity up to a certain extent, beyond which the effect diminishes.

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This study aims to classify farms into groups based on trends to examine the challenges they face by conducting a questionnaire survey of JGAP farms (rice or livestock) regarding their awareness, efforts, and evaluating of their effectiveness related to environmental conservation. Farms with higher ratings tended to be rice farms, were newer in terms of certification, and to have acquired other certifications. As measures to improve issues, we propose to increase awareness of environmental conservation, improve the evaluation of environmentally friendly actions, and improve the quality and quantity of efforts.

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This study aims to clarify consumer preferences for tea made from the unused parts of Japanese Angelica (Tohki) leaves. The findings indicate that albeit elderly women with high health consciousness and older individuals with environmental awareness show interest in products derived from Tohki leaves, they express concerns about the safety and efficacy of such items. Enhancing scientific evidence and transparency is crucial for improving trust. Choice experiments reveal that indicating health benefit label and utilizing unused part label increase purchase intent. Marketing strategies that address both health and environmental awareness may boost purchase probabilities.

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This study clarifies the economic diversification activities of farmers’ markets in Taiwan and examines the direction of management development. The results show that economic diversification activities are organized into assortment-type activities focusing on primary processing and product development on the one hand and service activities emphasizing experience and interaction on the other. In recent years, public support has been pushing for the reopening of farmers’ markets. It is believed that farmers’ markets are moving toward incorporating food and agriculture education and service activities and becoming centers for local exchange.

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This study investigated the relationship between exterior design and the perceived “ease of entry” for privately-owned restaurants. The findings yielded two main conclusions. First, consumer criteria for evaluating ease of entry varied depending on whether the establishment served only food or both food and beverages, even for the same restaurant. Second, women tended to be more conscientious about assessing clientele, often considering whether the restaurant aligned with their sense of appropriateness before deciding to patronize it.

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This study examined the ethical determinants of consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for livestock products prepared while ensuring the animal welfare. The analysis used structural equation modeling with random parameter logit models. The Results showed that consumers felt generally positive about animal welfare–certified butter. Additionally, both utilitarian and obligatory animal ethics, which contradict each other in traditional ethical theories, were found to coexist in consumers and increase their WTP for animal welfare–certified butter.

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This study aims to examine internal and external motivations underlying Taiwanese farmers’ willingness to transition to organic farming. The empirical analysis is based on a multinomial logit model and suggests that internal motivations, particularly those related to personal skills and educational background, form the foundation for considering organic farming. However, external motivations, especially environmental considerations, play a supportive yet crucial role in reinforcing this decision.

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The economic effects of beef cattle production on the local economy are not limited to the beef cattle sector; backward and forward linkage effects ripple through other sectors. We evaluated the linkage effects of Wagyu beef production in Shiga Prefecture. The findings are: (1) the backward and forward linkage effects are 10,950- and 14,324- million yen, respectively, which are 1.18- and 1.54-times the value of Wagyu beef production; (2) the backward linkage effect rippling within the prefecture is limited to 15.0% of the total effect, whereas the forward linkage effect rippling within the prefecture is 76.7% of the total effect.

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The impact of rising oil prices on agricultural production in Japan remains uncertain. This study examines how increasing crude oil import prices influence agricultural production using an inter-regional CGE model. The findings indicate that agricultural production increased in Hokkaido but remained unchanged in Tofuken, which encompasses all regions in Japan excluding Hokkaido. Overall, agricultural production in Japan grew, driven by a decline in imports and an increase in exports. To enhance the agricultural sector's resilience to external factors such as increasing oil prices, it is essential to steadily expand agricultural product exports.

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This study examines the promotion of sake-brewing rice production, which has been developed independently. A survey of farmers and a sake-brewing company in Kochi Prefecture was conducted to identify the factors contributing to this situation. The survey revealed that the production infrastructure is well-established, and there is a sufficient price differential compared to edible rice. Production is encouraged because of the benefits for the producers. In such cases, fostering a stronger relationship with the sake-brewing company facilitates reaching a consensus on quality improvement and supply-demand adjustments.

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In rural areas, mobile grocery stores are being explored to improve difficulties in accessing food. However, owing to a declining number of users, maintaining profitability is challenging. This study aims to effectively evaluate user needs and integrate the findings into business management practices to sustain mobile grocery stores. The analysis utilized petition data submitted to municipalities to advocate for the continuation of mobile grocery store services. The results revealed that mobile grocery stores are valued for three key functions: maintaining living conditions, monitoring older adults, and providing shopping opportunities for them, thus highlighting mobile grocery stores’ welfare aspects.

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This study determines customer acceptance of farmers' practices, such as reduced pesticide and chemical fertilizer use, biodiversity conservation, and ICT adoption, through factors influencing rice repurchase. The BWS results indicated that taste, cultivation methods, and farmers are crucial repurchase factors, with taste significantly more important than others. Good taste is essential for customers to accept farmers' practices. Customers emphasizing cultivation methods and farmers' practices showed a 6-13% higher WTP than the current price, whereas price-sensitive customers had a lower WTP. Customers who value cultivation and practices had higher agricultural knowledge and awareness, suggesting that enhancing these aspects could increase WTP.

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This study aims to reveal the reality and characteristics of alternative meat consumption in Japan. It also aims to identify factors that promote the diversification of alternative protein sources. We analyzed consumer attributes using logistic regression on the purchase history data of plant-based meat (PBM) products and consumer surveys conducted between 2021 and 2022. The results indicated that urban consumers, diabetics, those passionate about food, and health-conscious and savings-oriented individuals exhibited higher PBM purchase probability. Conversely, young individuals, students, individuals with a high level of other-comparability, and cautious and efficient purchasers showed lower PBM purchase probability.

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