We investigated the effect of extracted rice protein hydrolysate (ERP), a byproduct of low-protein rice, for use as a therapeutic diet for kidney disease patients. The ERP was composed mostly of peptides and free amino acids. Administering ERP inhibited the body mass compared to obese model mice fed a high-fat diet. ERP administration also significantly increased and decreased fecal triglycerides and epididymal adipose tissue weight, respectively. Blood alanine aminotransferase levels decreased, indicating that hepatic inflammation was reduced. Also, a decrease in ceramide synthase 6, which is related to insulin resistance, was observed. Since ERP was composed mostly of peptides and free amino acids, we hypothesize that the observed effects were due to peptides and/or free amino acids. Based on the findings, ERP is a very useful anti-obesity food additive.

A near-infrared spectrometer equipped with a sample conveyor has been constructed to develop an instrument for continuous, nondestructive, rapid evaluation of sucrose content in sugar beet. With a conveyor speed of 20 m/min and a sampling interval of 50 cm, 40 measurements per minute are possible. A calibration curve was created by PLS regression analysis using spectral data (second derivative processing) of each sample as the explanatory variable and the actual measured sucrose content as the objective variable. For evaluation of the calibration curve, calculation of sucrose content from the spectra was highly accurate with a correlation coefficient (r), standard error of prediction (SEP), and root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.918, 0.65 %, and 0.65 %, respectively. The accuracy of the calibration curve was judged as "high" for both precision and utility, with an EI value, which is an accuracy index, of 17.5 %. Comparing the average "measured value" and "predicted value" for all samples used for calibration curve evaluation confirmed that there was almost no difference between them. The difference between the measured and predicted values was calculated by randomly extracting samples (2 to 100 samples) from the samples for evaluation and obtaining their average value (1 000 iterations). Extracting 50 or more samples predicted the average value with an error of within approximately 0.1 %. These results indicate that this method is effective as a non-destructive, simple, labor-saving, and rapid sucrose content evaluation method for sugar beet.

A survey and analysis of bakery products were conducted using a trained panel. Data were obtained on terms used to describe the texture of nine bakery products. Sixty-nine of these terms were positioned as major texture terms for bakery products. Principal component analysis was applied to investigate the relationship between the bakery products and terms. The textures of bakery products were interpreted as "texture related to hardness," "texture related to airy softness," "fat-derived texture," and "texture related to moisture felt in the oral cavity during chewing". A set of databases that can be used to establish and communicate performance evaluations has been created, and typical texture terms and their lexical characteristics for each bakery product have been clarified.

Recently, confronting the problems of social sustainability and human well-being has become the "common good of society," and solutions to these issues have attained "customer value," and are now targets of corporate R&D. In other words, solving social issues is becoming an avenue of investment returns. If respective food R&D departments of industry, government, and academia take this opportunity to collaborate in order to solve social issues by targeting "both economic and social aspects," Japan's food industry will be able to create a new "winning formula" for sustainable growth.

Landslides and flooding caused by the western Japan torrential rains in July 2018 inflicted heavy damage on citrus cultivation in Ehime prefecture. The damage included not only the loss of citrus trees and soil, but also damage to the agricultural infrastructure such as the roads between fields, rail carriers, and irrigation systems. Three years have passed since the disaster. Restoration work for small- to middle-sized landslides has been progressing, and new tree plantings have been started. However, after planting, it takes 5 years before harvesting can start, and 10 years before production can return to pre-disaster levels. Restoration work has not yet begun for large-sized landslides, but will be completed about 10 years later. Although it is difficult to secure an agricultural income during this period, a young farmers group has stared nursing trees for the future completion of the restoration work.

Concerns about damage to agricultural products due to global warming are increasing year by year. In apple cultivation, high temperatures cause defects in color and other characteristics, and warm weather in winter causes a decrease in cold resistance, which is associated with damage due to low temperatures and frost. In addition, damage due to storms and floods occurs frequently. In Nagano Prefecture, various fruit varieties are cultivated using a relay system. Therefore, harvesting is intermittent from July to December. Since the rate of maturation varies among cultivars, the degree of maturity and degree of damage also differ depending on the timing of the occurrence of natural disasters. Most harvested fruits are immature, and there are many problems with food safety and taste. On the other hand, immature fruits contain a lot of polyphenols, which are used as functional materials. Regarding climate change countermeasures, advances have been made in terms of forecasting, prevention, items, varieties, and cultivation techniques. However, no progress has been made in examining ways to use damaged agricultural products. In the future, it will be necessary for national and local governments, production areas, and processors to work together to examine the safety and utilization of damaged agricultural products.