One of the commodities of concern for import expansion due to globalization is vegetable oil. In this paper, we review the commodity characteristics and social and technological conditions of oilseeds, vegetable oils, and vegetable oil meals, and identify the incentives and barriers to the future expansion of vegetable oil imports. We then examine how vegetable oil producers are taking measures to gain competitive advantage in the face of recent environmental changes, such as vegetable oil imports, which may occur in the medium to long term, from the perspective of management strategy theory. In conclusion, we have summarized that, as recent environmental changes, imports of vegetable oil due to trade liberalization are unlikely to occur soon because the profits from domestic crushing are large and there are not enough tanks for storage, while the transition of the livestock sector, which is a consumer of vegetable oil meal, is one of the areas to watch. In addition, we confirmed that stable procurement of raw materials is an urgent issue. The vegetable oil manufacturing industry has been working on building cooperative competitive relationships within the industry, structural reforms, creating demand for high value-added oils, diversification, overseas expansion, and capital investment that can cope with vegetable oil imports.

In this paper, a structure analysis of Japanese trading company groups in the feed grain and formula feed value chain of the United States and Japan vos conducted. In the grain business, it is basically difficult to add value by differentiating, so cost reduction by demonstrating economies of scale is a means to increase profitability. Therefore, while Japanese trading companies are developing sales channels in China, they are promoting the integration of grain dealers in the United States and expanding the amount of grain handled. Since formula feed is highly substitutable, it is difficult to create added value, and cost reduction is important to enhance competitiveness. Therefore, feed manufacturers are promoting diversification of raw material procurement, direct transactions with large-scale producers, and direct delivery by large lots.

This study analyzed environmental conservation, rural economic revitalization, and global environmental conservation activities in Tochigi Prefecture’s Nakagawa-machi. To extract valuable information on rural activities, the study employed a survey questionnaire of various stakeholders regarding their attitudes and activities. We also evaluated carbon dioxide emission reduction in connection with eggplant production. Then, we conducted another survey about consumer attitudes toward carbon emissions from eggplant production and special methods that lower carbon emissions in eggplant production. The results of these surveys were as follows: participants, like forest owners, highly evaluated the performance of the rural environmental conservation activities; participants, like retailers, also evaluated the positive impact. However, their evaluation of the unclear performance on the environment was not high. The forest owners did not evaluate the rural economic vitalization activities highly. The retailers’ evaluation showed the implications that the repercussion effects of these activities were low. We determined that 60% of carbon dioxide emissions were reduced in connection with environmental conservative agricultural production. Consumers also found certain added value of the product.