Recognizing Outstanding Agricultural-Welfare Collaboration! Call for Entries for the 'Noufuku Award 2026' Now Open!

〇 Call for entries for the 'Noufuku Award 2026' begins on June 15, Reiwa 8 (Monday)! 〇 Deadline for submissions: August 24, Reiwa 8 (Monday).

The Agricultural-Welfare Support Consortium (secretariat: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) will begin accepting entries for the 'Noufuku Award 2026' on June 15, Reiwa 8 (Monday), to recognize outstanding initiatives in agricultural-welfare collaboration. Eligible applicants are organizations contributing to solving various challenges faced by the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors and the welfare sector. The application period runs from June 15, Reiwa 8 (Monday) to August 24, Reiwa 8 (Monday).

1. Purpose

Agricultural-welfare collaboration is an initiative where agriculture and welfare sectors work together to enable people with disabilities to thrive in agricultural fields, thereby fostering their confidence and sense of purpose while promoting social inclusion and advancing farm management. Furthermore, from the perspective of enabling social participation for all community members, it is important to strengthen inter-ministerial collaboration to expand agricultural-welfare initiatives into a universal approach. This includes broadening the target group beyond people with disabilities to include the elderly, individuals in poverty, those experiencing social withdrawal, and individuals seeking rehabilitation after committing crimes. Additionally, expanding the scope beyond agriculture to include forestry and fisheries is also crucial. In June Reiwa 6, the 'Third Promotion Meeting for Agricultural-Welfare Collaboration,' an inter-ministerial conference, adopted the 'Promotion Vision for Agricultural-Welfare Collaboration (2024 Revised Edition),' which states: 'By promoting agricultural-welfare collaboration as an initiative aimed at developing agriculture, forestry, and fisheries while realizing an inclusive society, it is expected that businesses and consumers will increasingly perceive such collaboration as a familiar and accessible practice.' Therefore, the 'Agricultural-Welfare Support Consortium' (established in March Reiwa 2) will now solicit case studies from organizations, companies, and individuals (hereinafter referred to as 'organizations, etc.') across Japan engaged in agricultural-welfare collaboration and recognize and publicize exemplary initiatives through the 'Noufuku Award 2026.'

2. Eligibility

The award targets organizations that foster collaboration between agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors and welfare, enabling diverse individuals—including people with disabilities, the elderly, those in poverty, individuals experiencing social withdrawal, and individuals with criminal records—to utilize their abilities in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. These initiatives should contribute to solving various challenges faced by both sectors, promote social inclusion, and support the sustainability, development, and revitalization of local communities.

3. Application Period

From June 15, Reiwa 8 (Monday) to August 24, Reiwa 8 (Monday)

4. How to Apply

Download the application form from the 'Noufuku Award 2026 Special Website,' complete all required fields, and upload the file via the application form. Self-nominations and third-party nominations are both accepted.

Noufuku Award 2026 Special Website URL: https://noufuku.jp/award/ (external link)

5. Awards

(1) Grand Prix Selected from the initiatives awarded Excellence Award in this year’s award, as well as those that previously received Excellence Award or higher (excluding Grand Prix) and have re-entered this year’s award, the most outstanding initiative will be chosen.

(2) Runner-up Grand Prix From the initiatives selected for Excellence Award in this year’s award, one outstanding initiative will be selected in each of the three evaluation areas: 'Cultivating People,' 'Cultivating Communities,' and 'Cultivating the Future.'

(3) Excellence Award Several initiatives will be selected based on a comprehensive evaluation from the three perspectives: 'Cultivating People,' 'Cultivating Communities,' and 'Cultivating the Future' (Note: Organizations previously awarded Excellence Award or higher before last year are not eligible for Excellence Award this year).

(4) Fresh Award and Challenge Award From initiatives not reaching Excellence Award level but still demonstrating quality, several will be selected for the Fresh Award (for organizations established within the last five years) and the Challenge Award (for organizations pioneering new forms of agricultural-welfare collaboration, such as with the elderly, people in poverty, aquaculture-welfare, forestry-welfare, or traditional local industries).

6. Schedule

Application Period Start: June 15, Reiwa 8 (Monday)

Application Deadline: August 24, Reiwa 8 (Monday)

Announcement of Results: Early November, Reiwa 8

Award Ceremony: Late November, Reiwa 8

7. Organizer

Agricultural-Welfare Support Consortium (secretariat: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries)

8. Inquiry Contact for Applications

Agricultural-Welfare Support Consortium Secretariat (operated by The Nippon Foundation) 4F, Ochanomizu Meijin Building, 1-2-13 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0034

Email: noufukuaward★nipponkikin.org Note: Replace ★ with @ when sending emails.

(References)

Promotion of Agricultural-Welfare Collaboration (Information from the Agricultural-Welfare Support Consortium) https://www.maff.go.jp/j/nousin/kouryu/noufuku/conso.html

Promotion Meeting for Agricultural-Welfare Collaboration https://www.maff.go.jp/j/nousin/kouryu/noufuku/suisin_kaigi.html

Attached Materials

'Noufuku Award 2026' Recruitment Flyer (PDF: 4,189KB)

Press Release Materials (PDF: 686KB)

Inquiries

Agricultural-Welfare Collaboration Planning Unit, Agricultural-Welfare Collaboration Promotion Office, Urban-Rural Exchange Section, Rural Policy Division, Rural Development Bureau Main: 03-3502-8111 (Ext. 5448) Direct Dial: 03-3502-0033