Catharina Klein
Research expert covering Japan
Livestock sector in Japan - statistics & facts
The Japanese farming industry mainly focuses on crop production, with vegetables and rice making up by far the largest production value, while livestock farming only plays a minor role in agricultural activities. Overall, the agricultural sector in Japan accounts for only around one percent of the country's GDP, and it faces several challenges: Barely 20 percent of the mountainous island is suitable for cultivation and natural disasters such as earthquakes or typhoons regularly cause damages for the farming industry. Additionally, the sector is facing a decreasing number of active farmers as their average age is rising to over 68 years and many do not find a successor upon retirement. Consequently, Japan increasingly relies on imports for many agricultural products.
Overall, the self-sufficiency ratio of agricultural and livestock products in Japan remains low, making the country rely on imports. Expanding the plant-based food market might be a step toward food security, while improving animal welfare. However, it does not seem likely that the demand for milk, egg, or meat will lower in the near future as Japanese consumers value these products as part of a healthy diet and prioritize cheap prizes.
Japan remains reliant on imports of meat and dairy products
The traditional Japanese diet is mostly based on rice, vegetables, and seafood, but meat has become increasingly popular and its consumption volume keeps growing. Poultry, pork, and beef represented the main types of meat in the Japanese meat market. Due to high inflation and a weak Japanese yen, the industry currently anticipates that the consumer demand for pork will remain high and pork consumption will increase as an alternative to beef to save costs. However, the livestock sector barely covers half of the domestic demand for pork, making the country reliant on imports. Likewise, a majority of dairy products are imported to Japan as the self-sufficiency ratio of milk and dairy products stood at around 62 percent. Cheese, butter, and ice cream represented the most imported dairy products.Plant-based food as a sustainable alternative?
Next to food security being a concern for the country, the awareness of sustainable lifestyles, animal welfare, and environmental issues has seen an increase in recent years. This is shown in the expansion of the plant-based food market. The industry experienced a delay compared to the global market but is forecast to increase significantly in the coming years. Some plant-based products such as tofu are already established in the Japanese food manufacturing industry. However, the popularity of dairy-based products as well as meat persists, while alternative eating preferences such as veganism remain a minority.Overall, the self-sufficiency ratio of agricultural and livestock products in Japan remains low, making the country rely on imports. Expanding the plant-based food market might be a step toward food security, while improving animal welfare. However, it does not seem likely that the demand for milk, egg, or meat will lower in the near future as Japanese consumers value these products as part of a healthy diet and prioritize cheap prizes.
