FY2026 Rice Flour Raw Material Stable Supply Project to Support Stable Procurement of Rice for Rice Flour, Applications Open from July 1 (Wednesday)

Nihon Nogyo Shimbun Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Taito-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Kazushiro Tamiya) announces that as the secretariat for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' "Rice Flour Demand Creation and Utilization Promotion Measures Project," specifically the "Rice Flour Raw Material Stable Supply Project," it will begin accepting applications for the FY2026 Rice Flour Raw Material Stable Supply Project from Wednesday, July 1, 2026. We are pleased to inform you that the application guidelines and documents have been published today on the dedicated website below. Prior to the application period, project briefing sessions will be held online by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the secretariat on Monday, May 18, and Tuesday, June 9. Both sessions are scheduled from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Applications for the briefing sessions and advance questions will also be accepted on the dedicated website. https://pr.agrinews.co.jp/komeko In recent years, the demand for rice flour has expanded, increasing 1.5 times over the past five years. This growth is driven by improved milling technology suitable for bread and noodles, a sense of security from using domestically self-sufficient rice as a raw material, and growing interest in "gluten-free" products. However, the production of rice for rice flour has not kept pace with demand, making the stable procurement of raw material rice a challenge. In light of this situation, this project aims to establish a stable rice flour supply system by supporting the purchase costs for milling manufacturers and food processors who enter into multi-year contracts with producers, agricultural cooperatives (JA), and collectors for rice flour rice. This will encourage sustainable production by ensuring stable sales channels for rice flour rice producers. ■ Project Overview This project supports the purchase costs of rice for rice flour, which milling companies and food manufacturers procure through multi-year contracts with producers, etc., to ensure a stable supply of rice flour raw materials. The grant amount is capped at 20,000 yen per ton of unpolished rice, with a maximum of three years' worth paid in a lump sum in FY2026. For example, if a multi-year contract is concluded for 20 tons in FY2026, 30 tons in FY2027, and 40 tons in FY2028, the maximum eligible quantity for FY2027 and subsequent years will be the initial year's quantity of 20 tons. Therefore, the support amount will be as follows: 20 tons × 3 years × 20,000 yen = 1,200,000 yen ■ Main Requirements for Project Implementers to be Solicited The main project implementers eligible for this project are individuals, corporations, or organizations that meet the following requirements: They must be engaged in rice flour milling or the manufacturing of processed foods using rice flour, and newly conclude multi-year contracts for at least 1 ton of unpolished rice per year with producers, agricultural cooperatives (JA), or collectors for two years (FY2026 and FY2027) or three years (up to FY2028). In addition, there are other specified requirements, such as being located in Japan and undertaking efforts related to the "Cross-Compliance Checklist" for reducing environmental impact. Please check the application website for details. ■ Application Period Application Start: Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Application Deadline: Monday, August 31, 2026, 5:00 PM (must arrive by) ■ Contact Information Rice Flour Demand Creation and Utilization Promotion Measures Project Rice Flour Raw Material Stable Supply Project Secretariat (within Nihon Nogyo Shimbun Co., Ltd.) Phone: 03-6281-5869 (Weekdays 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM) Email: komeko-genryo-r7@agrinews.co.jp Address: Partner Support Department, 2-3 Akihabara, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-8722