Sakanotochu Lab Launches 'Regional Edition Organic Farming White Paper'
Sakanotochu Co., Ltd. has started offering the 'Regional Edition Organic Farming White Paper' to help local governments understand organic farming realities. The first issue, focusing on Hokuto City, reveals that 90% of organic farmers there are new entrants supported strongly by the municipality.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 24, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 24, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 25, 2026 at 03:02 (16h 30m after Collected)
Sakanotochu Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture; CEO: Kunihiko Ono) has announced that "Sakanotochu Lab" has started providing the "Regional Edition Organic Farming White Paper" (hereinafter "Regional White Paper") to grasp the realities of organic farming in specific regions.
The first issue, the "Hokuto City Edition Organic Farming White Paper," digitizes the realities of farming and the management conditions of organic producers in Hokuto City. By comparing these figures with national averages, it clarifies the characteristics of organic farming in Hokuto City. Moving forward, Sakanotochu aims to collaborate with various regions to expand the "Regional White Paper" and promote organic farming nationwide.
Based on the "Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems (MIDORI)" announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 2021—which aims to build a sustainable food system—an increasing number of local governments are working to promote organic farming. However, many municipalities struggle with concrete actions because it is difficult to grasp the current situation to determine "where to start" and "what measures are effective."
Sakanotochu launched the "Sakanotochu Lab" in 2022. Leveraging accumulated knowledge and data, it has collaborated with companies, local governments, and universities to conduct research and business development to expand organic farming. In September 2024, they conducted a questionnaire survey among organic producers nationwide and published the "Organic Farming White Paper Vol. 1." This publication aims to accumulate previously uncollected information on organic farming and analyzes the current state of organic production, distribution, and consumption.
Furthermore, because the reality of organic farming varies by region, they have now started providing the "Regional White Paper." The first of these is for Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Blessed with rich nature, Hokuto City has seen an increase in organic farmers over the past 20 years, primarily among new entrants to agriculture. Sakanotochu and Hokuto City signed a comprehensive partnership agreement last June and are working together to further promote organic farming.
As a result of the survey conducted by Sakanotochu Lab, the background to the spread of organic farming in Hokuto City has become clear, including facts such as "many new farmers acquire their desired land" and "municipal support is extensive." We believe these results will serve as criteria for those considering starting farming in Hokuto City and can also be utilized to build a support system that aligns with regional realities.
Additionally, the survey yielded insights applicable to other regions, such as the effectiveness of municipal support and the differences in farming styles based on sales scale. Sakanotochu will continue to collaborate with various regions to expand the "Regional White Paper," collect and analyze data that can serve as common denominators, and support the promotion of organic farming and community building tailored to local realities across the country.
Partial Release of the "Hokuto City Edition Organic Farming White Paper" (Survey Results)
■ 90% are New Entrants; 76% State "Municipal Support is Available"
The survey revealed that 90% of the responding organic producers were new entrants*1. Furthermore, 76% of these new entrants answered that they were receiving support from the local government, which indicates a relatively comprehensive support system when compared to the national survey result (61%)*2. From these results, it can be inferred that the richness of municipal support is related to the high percentage of new entrants.
■ 81% of New Entrants Farming on Desired Land
The survey results showed that in Hokuto City, 81% of new entrants were able to start farming on their desired land. National surveys indicate that whether or not one can farm on desired land affects subsequent management conditions. In Hokuto City, 36% of farmers have incomes exceeding 4 million yen. Considering that the median agricultural income for new entrants nationwide (5th year or later) is 1.5 million yen*3, Hokuto City has a high percentage of farmers securing a solid income, suggesting that securing desired land leads to sustainable farming operations.
■ Different Farming Styles Depending on Sales Scale
An analysis of the correlation between sales and income revealed that profit margins are high at total sales around 10 million yen, with a tendency to combine agriculture-related and non-agricultural businesses. Moreover, at sales scales of 10 million yen or more, participation in cooperative shipping becomes predominant. By continuing to accumulate data, these differences in farming styles based on sales can serve as material for considering starting a farm and as indicators for management decisions after starting.
*1 Producers who did not inherit agriculture from their parents but secured land and funds themselves, entering agriculture from non-agricultural industries.
*2 Sakanotochu Lab. (September 2024). "Organic Farming White Paper Vol. 1 - From Current Status to Future Prospects" (p. 78, p. 80)
*3 National Chamber of Agriculture, National Consultation Center for New Farmers. (March 2025). "Survey Results on the Farming Realities of New Entrants - FY Reiwa 6" (p. 41) https://www.be-farmer.jp/uploads/statistics/r6_zittai
The first issue, the "Hokuto City Edition Organic Farming White Paper," digitizes the realities of farming and the management conditions of organic producers in Hokuto City. By comparing these figures with national averages, it clarifies the characteristics of organic farming in Hokuto City. Moving forward, Sakanotochu aims to collaborate with various regions to expand the "Regional White Paper" and promote organic farming nationwide.
Based on the "Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems (MIDORI)" announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in 2021—which aims to build a sustainable food system—an increasing number of local governments are working to promote organic farming. However, many municipalities struggle with concrete actions because it is difficult to grasp the current situation to determine "where to start" and "what measures are effective."
Sakanotochu launched the "Sakanotochu Lab" in 2022. Leveraging accumulated knowledge and data, it has collaborated with companies, local governments, and universities to conduct research and business development to expand organic farming. In September 2024, they conducted a questionnaire survey among organic producers nationwide and published the "Organic Farming White Paper Vol. 1." This publication aims to accumulate previously uncollected information on organic farming and analyzes the current state of organic production, distribution, and consumption.
Furthermore, because the reality of organic farming varies by region, they have now started providing the "Regional White Paper." The first of these is for Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Blessed with rich nature, Hokuto City has seen an increase in organic farmers over the past 20 years, primarily among new entrants to agriculture. Sakanotochu and Hokuto City signed a comprehensive partnership agreement last June and are working together to further promote organic farming.
As a result of the survey conducted by Sakanotochu Lab, the background to the spread of organic farming in Hokuto City has become clear, including facts such as "many new farmers acquire their desired land" and "municipal support is extensive." We believe these results will serve as criteria for those considering starting farming in Hokuto City and can also be utilized to build a support system that aligns with regional realities.
Additionally, the survey yielded insights applicable to other regions, such as the effectiveness of municipal support and the differences in farming styles based on sales scale. Sakanotochu will continue to collaborate with various regions to expand the "Regional White Paper," collect and analyze data that can serve as common denominators, and support the promotion of organic farming and community building tailored to local realities across the country.
Partial Release of the "Hokuto City Edition Organic Farming White Paper" (Survey Results)
■ 90% are New Entrants; 76% State "Municipal Support is Available"
The survey revealed that 90% of the responding organic producers were new entrants*1. Furthermore, 76% of these new entrants answered that they were receiving support from the local government, which indicates a relatively comprehensive support system when compared to the national survey result (61%)*2. From these results, it can be inferred that the richness of municipal support is related to the high percentage of new entrants.
■ 81% of New Entrants Farming on Desired Land
The survey results showed that in Hokuto City, 81% of new entrants were able to start farming on their desired land. National surveys indicate that whether or not one can farm on desired land affects subsequent management conditions. In Hokuto City, 36% of farmers have incomes exceeding 4 million yen. Considering that the median agricultural income for new entrants nationwide (5th year or later) is 1.5 million yen*3, Hokuto City has a high percentage of farmers securing a solid income, suggesting that securing desired land leads to sustainable farming operations.
■ Different Farming Styles Depending on Sales Scale
An analysis of the correlation between sales and income revealed that profit margins are high at total sales around 10 million yen, with a tendency to combine agriculture-related and non-agricultural businesses. Moreover, at sales scales of 10 million yen or more, participation in cooperative shipping becomes predominant. By continuing to accumulate data, these differences in farming styles based on sales can serve as material for considering starting a farm and as indicators for management decisions after starting.
*1 Producers who did not inherit agriculture from their parents but secured land and funds themselves, entering agriculture from non-agricultural industries.
*2 Sakanotochu Lab. (September 2024). "Organic Farming White Paper Vol. 1 - From Current Status to Future Prospects" (p. 78, p. 80)
*3 National Chamber of Agriculture, National Consultation Center for New Farmers. (March 2025). "Survey Results on the Farming Realities of New Entrants - FY Reiwa 6" (p. 41) https://www.be-farmer.jp/uploads/statistics/r6_zittai