Japan's food self-sufficiency slips to 37%, far short of 2030 goal

Japan's food self-sufficiency ratio declined to 37% in the fiscal year that ended in March, a one-percentage-point drop from the previous year and well short of the government's 45% target for fiscal 2030, according to the agriculture ministry.

The calorie-based measure—which tracks the share of domestic production in total food consumption—remains among the lowest in the developed world. The decline was driven by falling rice consumption and a rise in private-sector stockpiles, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said.

The ratio has now stayed below 40% for more than a decade, despite repeated government efforts to boost output of crops like wheat and soybeans, which Japan imports heavily. By comparison, Australia, Canada, France, and the United States all report self-sufficiency ratios above 100%. Germany stood at 81%, Britain at 56%, and Italy at 51% in 2023, based on the ministry's estimates.

A separate measure based on production value improved, rising two percentage points to 66%, helped by higher domestic prices for rice and livestock products.

The farm sector continues to face structural hurdles, including an ageing workforce, a shortage of successors, and shrinking farmland. Shifting dietary habits—away from rice and toward meat and oil-based foods—have also weighed on the ratio.

To reach the 45% goal, the government plans to expand farmland for wheat and soybeans, said Toshiaki Sasaki, planning director at the ministry's food security office. The ministry will review progress toward the 2030 target later this month and consider additional measures if needed.