Japan's Agriculture Ministry unveils food‑tech and international standards roadmaps

On 14 July, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries released the "Agricultural Research Innovation Strategy 2026". The plan highlights food‑tech research, promoting plant‑based and microbial proteins such as those derived from koji and hydrogen‑producing bacteria, and adds microbial production of useful substances as a new focus. The ministry set a target for commercial use of these alternative protein foods by 2030 and aims to triple the export value of agricultural and food products by that year.

A week later, on 24 July, the ministry issued an "International Standards Strategy for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries". It identifies three priority areas – high‑quality, high‑value products; sustainable production; and greenhouse‑gas reduction – and seeks to shape global standards across the entire food‑supply chain, including smart‑farm technologies, bio‑materials, and nutrition assessment. The strategy calls for coordinated action among government, industry and academia, and aims to enhance Japan's influence in international standard‑setting bodies.