Japan's food self-sufficiency ratio declined to 37% for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2026, down 1 percentage point from the previous year and significantly below the government's target of 45% for fiscal 2030, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced on Friday, August 7th.

This calorie-based ratio, which measures the share of food consumed that is domestically produced, has remained below 40% for over a decade despite efforts to increase production of key imported crops like wheat and soybeans. The decline was attributed to reduced rice consumption and increased private-sector stockpiles.

Japan's self-sufficiency rate measured by production value, however, rose by 2 percentage points to 66% in the last fiscal year, supported by higher domestic prices for rice and livestock products.

The ministry highlighted ongoing structural challenges in the farming sector, including an aging workforce, lack of successors, and shrinking farmland. Additionally, dietary shifts away from rice toward meat and oil-based foods have negatively impacted the ratio.

To meet the 45% target, Japan plans to expand farmland for wheat and soybeans, crops for which it remains heavily reliant on imports, according to Toshiaki Sasaki, planning director at the ministry's food security office. The ministry intends to review progress toward the 2030 goal later in August and consider further measures as necessary.

Comparatively, other developed countries such as Australia, Canada, France, and the U.S. have self-sufficiency ratios exceeding 100%, while Germany's stood at 81%, Britain's at 56%, and Italy's at 51% in 2023.

Sources