Infographics: How shaky is Japan's food supply chain? - Nikkei Asia
Infographics: How shaky is Japan's food supply chain? - Nikkei Asia
TOKYO -- In Hokkaido, Japan's top raw milk producing prefecture, one dairy farmer goes out of business every two days. With calve prices collapsing and feed prices skyrocketing at an unprecedented rate, dairy farmers are losing money every time a calve is born. The situation on Japan's northernmost main island has revealed a blind spot in the country's approach to food security.
Japan, which has long relied on imports for most of its feed grain, is now facing constant geopolitical risks. With importing countries competing for limited supplies, the slightest shift in the balance between supply and demand can cause major disruptions around the world. As climate change advances and viral infections occur more frequently, scenarios in which intertwined risks amplify a food crisis are becoming ever more realistic.
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