Registration for the 3rd Green Strategy Student Challenge Begins!
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) is launching the 3rd "Green Strategy Student Challenge," inviting high school and university students to submit environmental initiatives related to the "Green Food System Strategy." The challenge includes regional and national competitions, with registration open from April 15 to July 31, 2026, and activity reports due by November 23, 2026. Outstanding projects will be recognized with awards, including the special "GREEN×EXPO 2027 Award."
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The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) is implementing the "Green Strategy Student Challenge" to recruit initiatives related to the "Green Food System Strategy" targeting high school and university students. For the 3rd Green Strategy Student Challenge, continuing from the 2nd edition, we are pleased to receive support from the Public Interest Incorporated Association 2027 International Horticultural Exhibition Association and establish the "GREEN×EXPO 2027 Award."
**1. About the Green Strategy Student Challenge**
In 2021, MAFF formulated the "Green Food System Strategy" as a new policy direction to achieve both increased productivity and sustainability in the food, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors by 2050. This strategy promotes efforts to reduce environmental impact at each stage: procurement, production, processing/distribution, and consumption.
As part of these efforts, to encourage environmentally conscious initiatives among the younger generation who will lead the future, we are implementing the "Green Strategy Student Challenge" to provide an opportunity for individuals and groups, such as university and high school students, to put into practice activities related to the "Green Food System Strategy."
**2. Implementation Overview**
(1) Regional Block Competitions
We will recruit achievements from students' initiatives related to the Green Food System Strategy in nine regions nationwide (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Hokuriku, Tokai, Kinki, Chugoku-Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa), and conduct judging and awards for each regional block.
(2) National Competition
Among the initiatives applied for in the regional block competitions, particularly outstanding ones will be judged and awarded at the national competition.
**3. Eligibility**
(1) High School Division
Groups or individuals composed of students from high schools, vocational schools, and technical colleges (up to 3rd year), and others recognized by the secretariat.
(2) University/Vocational School Division
Groups or individuals composed of students from universities (including graduate schools), junior colleges, vocational schools, and technical colleges (4th year and above), and others recognized by the secretariat.
*Eligibility is limited to those enrolled as of November 23, 2026.
*The target audience is not limited to agricultural educational institutions such as agricultural high schools and universities; it is broadly open to students from high schools, universities, and vocational schools.
**4. Application Content**
(1) Activity Content
Eligible activities are those related to the Green Food System Strategy (activities concerning procurement, production, processing/distribution, and consumption).
(2) Activity Implementation Period
Activities conducted between January and November 2026 are eligible (partial implementation is also acceptable).
*Activities that have been ongoing before this period but were conducted within this period are also included.
**5. Application Method**
(1) Participation Registration
Those wishing to participate in the Green Strategy Student Challenge should apply by entering the necessary information in the participation registration form from April 15 (Wednesday) to July 31 (Friday), 2026 (strict adherence).
https://www.contactus.maff.go.jp/j/form/kanbo/kankyo/260415_1.html
(2) Activity Report
From August 1 (Saturday) to November 23 (Monday), 2026 (strict adherence), please submit a poster summarizing your activity results through the activity report form.
*When creating your poster, please note the following:
* The poster should be created using tools such as PowerPoint and submitted in the format of a single A1 vertical sheet.
* The poster must include (a) Purpose, (b) Activity Details, (c) Results, and (d) Discussion/Summary, clearly indicating the relationship between the activity and the Green Food System Strategy.
* Additionally, please follow the "Green Strategy Student Challenge Poster Creation Manual" (to be released later).
**6. Judging**
For both the national and regional block competitions, a judging committee will be established to review the activity results based on the following judging criteria.
Please ensure you carefully check relevant laws and regulations, such as the Agricultural Chemicals Control Act, Fertilizer Control Act, and Feed Safety Act, in relation to your initiative.
[Judging Criteria (1) & (2) are mandatory items]
(1) The initiative must be related to the Green Food System Strategy [Relevance to Green Strategy] (Mandatory)
(2) The initiative must not exclude different values [Acceptance of Diverse Values] (Mandatory)
(3) The initiative must contribute to solving challenges related to the sustainability of food, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries that concern the Green Food System Strategy (e.g., reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to climate change, conservation of biodiversity) [Problem-Solving Capability]
a. Contribution to the Green Food System Strategy (demonstrates contribution to achieving the Green Strategy's KPIs) (10 points)
b. Validity of the activity plan (the plan is suitable for achieving the objectives and is feasible) (10 points)
c. Effectiveness of the activity (the activity content is effective in solving the problem) (10 points)
d. Universality (the activity can be replicated or referenced by other regions/entities) (10 points)
e. Achievement level of the activity (progress of the activity relative to the objective) (10 points)
(4) The initiative involves collaboration with external stakeholders such as local communities and businesses [Connectivity] (10 points)
(5) The initiative is innovative and original [Innovation/Originality] (10 points)
(6) The initiative leverages regional characteristics and strengths such as climate, local specialties, and culture [Regionality] (10 points)
(7) The initiative clearly articulates improvement points and next steps towards realizing sustainable food, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, based on self-evaluation [Developability] (10 points)
(8) The activity content is clearly organized and presented so that the purpose, background, results, etc., are easily understood by third parties [Communication Skills] (10 points)
(Maximum total: 100 points)
**7. National Competition**
(1) Awards Ceremony & Exchange Session
Date: Saturday, February 13, 2027
Location: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Main Building (1-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
Content: Following the awards ceremony, an exchange session will be held to discuss the students' initiatives with award-winning teams from the national competition, MAFF officials, and experts serving as judges.
(2) Award Categories
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award will be presented to particularly outstanding initiatives in each division (one award each).
Awards such as the Minister's Secretariat Award will be presented to excellent initiatives (multiple awards).
For the 3rd competition, with the support of the Public Interest Incorporated Association 2027 International Horticultural Exhibition Association, and with the aim of fostering momentum for the "2027 International Horticultural Exhibition" to be held in Yokohama from March 2027, the "GREEN×EXPO 2027 Award" will be presented to initiatives that align with the spirit of this exhibition among the excellent entries.
(3) Judging Committee
The judging committee will be composed of MAFF officials and invited external experts.
*Information regarding the regional block competitions will be provided separately by each regional block competition secretariat.
**8. Reference**
For detailed information on the Green Strategy Student Challenge, please refer to the Green Strategy Student Challenge website:
https://www.maff.go.jp/j/kanbo/kankyo/seisaku/midori/challenge.html
Past award-winning initiatives are published at the following URLs:
(1st Edition) https://www.maff.go.jp/j/kanbo/kankyo/seisaku/challenge_kekka.html
(2nd Edition) https://www.maff.go.jp/j/kanbo/kankyo/seisaku/midori_gakusei.html
Attachment: Separate Document _ Recruitment Flyer
Contact Information
Green Food System Strategy Group, Minister's Secretariat
Contact Person: Environmental Planning Division
Main Line: 03-3502-8111 (Ext. 3292)
Direct Dial: 03-3502-8056
**1. About the Green Strategy Student Challenge**
In 2021, MAFF formulated the "Green Food System Strategy" as a new policy direction to achieve both increased productivity and sustainability in the food, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors by 2050. This strategy promotes efforts to reduce environmental impact at each stage: procurement, production, processing/distribution, and consumption.
As part of these efforts, to encourage environmentally conscious initiatives among the younger generation who will lead the future, we are implementing the "Green Strategy Student Challenge" to provide an opportunity for individuals and groups, such as university and high school students, to put into practice activities related to the "Green Food System Strategy."
**2. Implementation Overview**
(1) Regional Block Competitions
We will recruit achievements from students' initiatives related to the Green Food System Strategy in nine regions nationwide (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Hokuriku, Tokai, Kinki, Chugoku-Shikoku, Kyushu, Okinawa), and conduct judging and awards for each regional block.
(2) National Competition
Among the initiatives applied for in the regional block competitions, particularly outstanding ones will be judged and awarded at the national competition.
**3. Eligibility**
(1) High School Division
Groups or individuals composed of students from high schools, vocational schools, and technical colleges (up to 3rd year), and others recognized by the secretariat.
(2) University/Vocational School Division
Groups or individuals composed of students from universities (including graduate schools), junior colleges, vocational schools, and technical colleges (4th year and above), and others recognized by the secretariat.
*Eligibility is limited to those enrolled as of November 23, 2026.
*The target audience is not limited to agricultural educational institutions such as agricultural high schools and universities; it is broadly open to students from high schools, universities, and vocational schools.
**4. Application Content**
(1) Activity Content
Eligible activities are those related to the Green Food System Strategy (activities concerning procurement, production, processing/distribution, and consumption).
(2) Activity Implementation Period
Activities conducted between January and November 2026 are eligible (partial implementation is also acceptable).
*Activities that have been ongoing before this period but were conducted within this period are also included.
**5. Application Method**
(1) Participation Registration
Those wishing to participate in the Green Strategy Student Challenge should apply by entering the necessary information in the participation registration form from April 15 (Wednesday) to July 31 (Friday), 2026 (strict adherence).
https://www.contactus.maff.go.jp/j/form/kanbo/kankyo/260415_1.html
(2) Activity Report
From August 1 (Saturday) to November 23 (Monday), 2026 (strict adherence), please submit a poster summarizing your activity results through the activity report form.
*When creating your poster, please note the following:
* The poster should be created using tools such as PowerPoint and submitted in the format of a single A1 vertical sheet.
* The poster must include (a) Purpose, (b) Activity Details, (c) Results, and (d) Discussion/Summary, clearly indicating the relationship between the activity and the Green Food System Strategy.
* Additionally, please follow the "Green Strategy Student Challenge Poster Creation Manual" (to be released later).
**6. Judging**
For both the national and regional block competitions, a judging committee will be established to review the activity results based on the following judging criteria.
Please ensure you carefully check relevant laws and regulations, such as the Agricultural Chemicals Control Act, Fertilizer Control Act, and Feed Safety Act, in relation to your initiative.
[Judging Criteria (1) & (2) are mandatory items]
(1) The initiative must be related to the Green Food System Strategy [Relevance to Green Strategy] (Mandatory)
(2) The initiative must not exclude different values [Acceptance of Diverse Values] (Mandatory)
(3) The initiative must contribute to solving challenges related to the sustainability of food, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries that concern the Green Food System Strategy (e.g., reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation to climate change, conservation of biodiversity) [Problem-Solving Capability]
a. Contribution to the Green Food System Strategy (demonstrates contribution to achieving the Green Strategy's KPIs) (10 points)
b. Validity of the activity plan (the plan is suitable for achieving the objectives and is feasible) (10 points)
c. Effectiveness of the activity (the activity content is effective in solving the problem) (10 points)
d. Universality (the activity can be replicated or referenced by other regions/entities) (10 points)
e. Achievement level of the activity (progress of the activity relative to the objective) (10 points)
(4) The initiative involves collaboration with external stakeholders such as local communities and businesses [Connectivity] (10 points)
(5) The initiative is innovative and original [Innovation/Originality] (10 points)
(6) The initiative leverages regional characteristics and strengths such as climate, local specialties, and culture [Regionality] (10 points)
(7) The initiative clearly articulates improvement points and next steps towards realizing sustainable food, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, based on self-evaluation [Developability] (10 points)
(8) The activity content is clearly organized and presented so that the purpose, background, results, etc., are easily understood by third parties [Communication Skills] (10 points)
(Maximum total: 100 points)
**7. National Competition**
(1) Awards Ceremony & Exchange Session
Date: Saturday, February 13, 2027
Location: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Main Building (1-2-1 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo)
Content: Following the awards ceremony, an exchange session will be held to discuss the students' initiatives with award-winning teams from the national competition, MAFF officials, and experts serving as judges.
(2) Award Categories
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Award will be presented to particularly outstanding initiatives in each division (one award each).
Awards such as the Minister's Secretariat Award will be presented to excellent initiatives (multiple awards).
For the 3rd competition, with the support of the Public Interest Incorporated Association 2027 International Horticultural Exhibition Association, and with the aim of fostering momentum for the "2027 International Horticultural Exhibition" to be held in Yokohama from March 2027, the "GREEN×EXPO 2027 Award" will be presented to initiatives that align with the spirit of this exhibition among the excellent entries.
(3) Judging Committee
The judging committee will be composed of MAFF officials and invited external experts.
*Information regarding the regional block competitions will be provided separately by each regional block competition secretariat.
**8. Reference**
For detailed information on the Green Strategy Student Challenge, please refer to the Green Strategy Student Challenge website:
https://www.maff.go.jp/j/kanbo/kankyo/seisaku/midori/challenge.html
Past award-winning initiatives are published at the following URLs:
(1st Edition) https://www.maff.go.jp/j/kanbo/kankyo/seisaku/challenge_kekka.html
(2nd Edition) https://www.maff.go.jp/j/kanbo/kankyo/seisaku/midori_gakusei.html
Attachment: Separate Document _ Recruitment Flyer
Contact Information
Green Food System Strategy Group, Minister's Secretariat
Contact Person: Environmental Planning Division
Main Line: 03-3502-8111 (Ext. 3292)
Direct Dial: 03-3502-8056