January 2019Sustainable Agriculture Division, Agricultural Production Bureau

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Conditions related to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)

Toward expanding activities for GAP and acquisition of GAP certification (1) (Implementation of GAP)

見えない価値（例） JGAP認証（例）

Target: Changes in production sitesKPI: To nurture and secure more than 1,000 instructors across

Japan under prefectural GAP leadership systems by the end of FY2018

Until Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics

Target: Widespread practice of activities matching international standardsImplementation of international-level GAP in almost all production sites in Japan

From 2021 till 2030

○Thorough recognition at production sitesCommon recognition that GAP is an approach absolutely necessary to improve “farmers’” management.GAP programs at prefectural and other levels are unified in compliance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries which meet procurement standards of the Olympics and Paralympics.→Progressive elimination in the future toward international-level GAP

○Establish preferential adoption, etc. in projects related to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries○Attempt to nurture and secure human resources capable of offering high-level guidance in each prefecture

and create GAP guidance system○Reinforce collaboration with related activities such as national movement to ensure worker safety and

movement to prevent harmful effects of agricultural chemicals○Promote GAP education at agricultural education organs

Revise The next Course of Study for high school to expand GAP education including practical work○Promote organic agriculture, agriculture-welfare collaboration, and GIAHS and J-NIAHS1 recommendable for

the Olympics and Paralympics, in an integrated manner.

Measures Toward expanding activities for international-level GAP

1) Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems and Japanese Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems..1

JGAP認証（例）

Target: Secure a shipment volume of GAP-certified agricultural products, etc. to readily supply enough volume of foodstuffs for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics

KPI: ・More than treble the number of certified farmers from the current number by the end of FY2019.・Secure international recognition of the Japan-originated GAP certification programs (the same treatment as the GLOBALG.A.P.)

Until Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics

Target: Changes in food value chain・Japan-originated GAP certification to

become mainline programs (de facto standard)

From 2021 till 2030

○Establish all-Japan structure of cooperation by assembling logistics operators and others sharing values○Cut the cost of screening and reinforce the system of authentication by promoting the nurture and securement of local examiners and group certification○Publicize merits by commending excellent cases and support the acquisition of certification(Basically, agribusiness operators decide whether to win the certification based on marketing strategies, business connections’ request, etc.)○The Japan-originated GAP certification programs (ASIAGAP) has been recognized by Global Food safety Initiative(GFSI)1(October 2018).○Attempt to enhance recognition in Asia with the Japan-originated GAP certification programs .

Measures Toward expanding the acquisition of GAP certification

Toward expanding activities for GAP and acquisition of GAP certification (2) (acquisition of GAP certification )

1) GFSI is powered by The Consumer Goods Forum(CGF), a global industry net working to support Better Lives through Better Business..

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Toward expanding activities for GAP and acquisition of GAP certification (3)

“Basic Policy on Economic and Fiscal Management and Reform 2018”(Cabinet decision, June 15, 2018) (Excerpts)

Chapter 2: Major actions for realizing a strong economic growth5. Initiatives for important issues(4) Response by economic sectori) Building a new era of agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries

To boost exports of agriculture, forestry and fisheries products, the government will make efforts to provide necessary information to producers, formulate global product areas, develop matching environments, and promote strategic marketing by JFOODO. In particular, the government will support effective expansion of rice exports by making the most of the two rice milling factories and five fumigation facilities that have been recently built for export to China. Capitalizing on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, the government will strategically promote utilization of standards and certifications such as JAS, HACCP, and GAP and international standardization, and progress the

development of effective and efficient export hubs in terms of both software and hardware.

Chapter 2: Detailed measuresI. The future key areas to tackle and the flagship project as the leading power of reformtoward achieving the Society 5.0[4] Changes in the region, community and SMEs1. Reformations and Smartifications in the agricultural, forestry and fishery fields(3) Details of new measures to be takenii) Promotion of exports・Taking the opportunity of Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, the strategic utilization of organic, halal, eco-labels for seafood, JAS (Japan Agricultural Standards) and other international standards and certifications such as GAP (Good Agricultural Practices), HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points; a system that identifies, evaluates, and controls hazards which are significant for food safety through monitoring and recording particularly important steps in manufacturing processes), will be promoted strategically. Processing facilities for meat and other foods will be equipped to meet the standards of export to destination countries.

“Growth Strategy 2018” (Cabinet decision, June 15, 2018) (Excerpts)

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Houmi Nokou (Niigata Prefecture)

Management of farm and expansion of business by GAP!

ASIAGAP Ver.2

(Effects)

○Houmi Nokou has continuously obtained the GAP certification as a tool to manage its farm since 2008 upon its establishment and expanded the scale of operations by 21.7 times from the time of founding in 2008 by establishing fiduciary relations with business connections.

○Houmi cultivates 10 breeds of rice from extremely early ripening to extremely late ripening rice and disperses cropping seasons. It also makes effective use of agricultural machines (operating rates of 3.7 times for rice planter and 2.5 times for combine harvester).

＊: Ratio to area covered by machinery per year under the Niigata Prefecture’s plan for introduction of specific high-performance agricultural equipment.

○Labor cost has been cut by 35%* by use of IT, preparation of cultivation plans, maintenance of work records, assessment of work results and other means of streamlining operations

○Expenses for agricultural chemicals have been cut by 40%* through

large-lot deals and orders for necessary amounts.

○Production cost has been cut by 5%* as a result of above-mentioned

management improvements.*: Comparison of cost per 10a between FY2014 and FY2016

○No food accidents resulting from improper use of agricultural chemicals

or tampering have occurred for more than 11 years since the establishment

of Houmi.

(Prize of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)

0

20

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120

140

H18 H19 H20 H21 H22 H23 H24 H25 H26 H27 H28 H29

経営規模の推移

経営規模

単位：ha

↑

GAP認証取得

[Certified product]Rice (hull and hulled rice)

Changes in scale of operationsUnit

Scale of operations

Gap certification

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

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Marusei Orchard (Fukushima Prefecture)

Marusei Kajuen has improved management and recovered from the disaster by utilizing GAP for employee education.

(Effects)○Customers have praised the acquisition of GAP certification as guaranteeing the safety of farm products

and mentioned the name of Marusei for sale of products. The fruit farm has won regular customers thanks to its increased name recognition (more than 90% of shipments are sold out by the following day).

○Marusei has given clear responsibility to a person in charge assigned to each role. Employees have become more aware of the need for reforms and willing to propose and carry out reform proposals due to the use of GAP for employee education.・Packaging expenses have been cut by 14%* due to converted use of unnecessary packaging material・Expenses for agricultural chemicals have been cut by 40%* as the changed method of ordering has curbed the amount of purchasesTotal material cost has been cut by 28%* due to the above-mentioned management improvements.*: Comparison between FY2010 (before the disaster) and FY2016.

○Marusei finances a new operation (farm house café) with gains, etc. secured by cost cuts from management reforms. It achieved a sales increase from the pre-disaster level (up 18% from FY 2010) (Area of cultivation unchanged)

(Prize of the Director-General of Agricultural Production Bureau )

Sale under the name of Marusei Orchard

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H22 H23 H24 H25 H26 H27 H28

売上高の推移

売上高

単位：百万

震災前の売上水準

↓

↑

東日本大震災発生

↑

GAP認証取得

ASIAGAP Ver.2 GLOBALG.A.P.

[Certified products]Persimmon, cherry, pear, Japanese pear, grape, blueberry, peach and apple*Underlined products are certified by GLOBALG.A.P.

Changes in salesUnit: in millions of yen

Sales before disaster

Sales

2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Occurrence of Great

East Japan EarthquakeAcquisition of GAP

certification

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JA Oita GAP Study Group (Oita Prefecture)

The group has expanded sales routes and achieved profitable sales by taking advantage of group certification!

JGAP

(Effects)○Through negotiations with customers by taking advantage of group certification,

the JA Oita GAP Study Group has:・Expanded sales routes for products at high unit prices (presence of sugar content and other quality standards)・Expanded sales areas to the whole of western Japan.

○Thanks to favorable advances in negotiations for shipment standards・Simplification of shipments from double-layer packaging (Standard 7) to single-layer packaging (Standard 2)

has more than doubled the efficiency of packaging work at producers (FY2012 – FY2013)・For citrus fruits, producers are able to save thinning work as a change from 2L to 3L sizes, which require

thinning, to smaller products requiring no thinning has become possible (from FY2013)

（Streamlined management of group’s secretariat）○Group certification by integrating 3 organizations of strawberry, Japanese parsley and citrus fruit producers has since FY2015:・Reduced the cost of screening by the secretariat of the

consolidated organization to around 150,000 yen from about 450,000 yen・Reduced the cost of screening borne by each farm to

20,000 yen from about 40,000 yen.

(Prize of the Director-General of Agricultural Production Bureau)

[Former double-layer packaging ] [single-layer packaging]

[Certified products]Citrus fruits (Ponkan and

Shiranui oranges), Japanese

parsley, strawberry, perilla,

white leek and seven herbs

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Aomori Prefectural Goshogawara Agricultural and Forestry High School (Aomori Prefecture)

Nurture future agriculture operators by acquiring GAP certification!

GLOBALG.A.P.

(Effects)○The high school officially adopted GLOBALG.A.P. education in its curriculum in FY2016 and has since put out

some 140 students, who have learned an international sense matching the globalization of foodstuffs, into the world every year.○Since the introduction of GLOBALG.A.P., 65% of students have set an eye toward entering agriculture-

related businesses (compared with a pre-introduction rate of 35%), achieving a turnaround in the rate.○With exports to China having started, students experienced local customer services and sales and learned

the need for marketing tailored to customers.○Acquisition of certification has helped develop new sales routes (to ANA, Iwatsuka Confectionery Co., etc.)○The implantation of open screening has created large ripple effects on not only farmers in the local

community but also farmers, agricultural high school officials, government officials, etc. within and without the prefecture.

(Prize of the Director-General of Agricultural Production Bureau)

[screening sessions]

Changes in the number of visitorsto screening sessions (total number)

FY2016 FY2017

120 340

[Certified products]Rice, apple and melon

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