Total Cultivated Area of JGAP Certified Farms, Addressing Food Safety and SDGs, Expands

The Japan GAP Foundation has announced the aggregated results for JGAP certification, awarded to farms engaged in food safety and SDGs, as of the end of March 2026.

The total cultivated area of JGAP certified farms (agricultural products, grains, tea) reached 40,651 hectares, an increase from 36,448 hectares in the previous year.

The cultivated area for fresh produce has been increasing year by year, showing a 20% increase from the previous year.

JGAP (Agricultural Products) Certified Farms: Total Cultivated Area Trend (Reference Value)

The number of certified farms was 4,757, and the number of certifications was 1,737, both showing a slight decrease from the previous year.

On the other hand, the total cultivated area in the agricultural products sector, aggregated as a reference value, has expanded, suggesting that certified farms are increasing in scale.

For reference, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries' "Statistics on Cultivated Land and Planted Area 2025," the tea cultivation area is 33,400 hectares.

In contrast, the JGAP certified tea cultivated area as of the end of March 2026 is 7,615 hectares, which, when compared directly, corresponds to approximately 20% of Japan's total tea cultivation area.

*Cultivated area is aggregated based on reports from certification bodies conducting JGAP assessments.

JGAP Certified Farm/Certification Count Trend

Cultivated Area for Fresh Produce Increases Annually

The total cultivated area for JGAP agricultural products has expanded from 13,267 hectares in 2018, when aggregation began, to 40,651 hectares in 2026, showing a long-term increasing trend.

In particular, the cultivated area for fresh produce has increased every year, expanding from 3,221 hectares in 2018 to 19,915 hectares in 2026.

These results suggest that the supply capacity of JGAP certified fresh produce is steadily expanding.

The background to this includes the promotion of procurement of GAP certified fresh produce by major retailers and food service companies.

For fresh produce, which is often consumed raw, the effect of GAP in reducing food safety risks is highly valued, becoming a factor in promoting procurement.

Furthermore, the fact that food businesses are evaluating GAP's efforts towards sustainability, such as environmental conservation and respect for human rights, which have been gaining attention in recent years, is also boosting the expansion of cultivated area for fresh produce.

The average cultivated area per farm is also on an upward trend.

As of the end of March 2026, the averages were 38.8 hectares for grains, 7.8 hectares for fresh produce, and 4.7 hectares for tea.

JGAP (Agricultural Products) Certified Farms: Average Cultivated Area per Farm Trend (Reference Value)

JGAP is a system that confirms sustainable practices in agricultural operations through third-party audits, and is utilized for improving farm management and securing trust from business partners.

The Japan GAP Foundation will continue to contribute to the realization of safe, secure, and sustainable agriculture through the promotion of JGAP.

Click here for the standard item name list for JGAP agricultural products (fresh produce, grains, tea).

Click here for detailed information on the number of certified farms and to search for information on individual certified farms.

What is GAP?

P stands for Good Agricultural Practices, referring to the practices that producers must adhere to in the production of agricultural products, and is translated as "good agricultural practices."

JGAP/ASIAGAP, operated by the Japan GAP Foundation, is a farm certification system based on practices related to food safety, environmental conservation, labor safety, farm management, respect for human rights, animal hygiene, and animal welfare, and greatly contributes to the realization of sustainable agriculture and the promotion of SDGs.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries also considers the promotion of GAP an important policy issue, and it is supported by many food businesses and has been adopted in procurement codes for the Osaka-Kansai Expo in 2025 and the International Horticultural Expo in 2027.

About the Japan GAP Foundation

The Japan GAP Foundation is a general incorporated foundation that develops, operates, and promotes two certification systems: JGAP/ASIAGAP.

Its objective is to broadly contribute to society through the realization of food safety, security, and sustainable agriculture.

Association Overview

Name: Japan GAP Foundation

Office: 4F, Japan Agricultural Research Center Bldg., 3-29 Kioicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0094

TEL: 03-5215-1112 (Reception hours: Weekdays 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM) FAX: 03-5215-1113

Established: January 2015

Activities:

1. Development of JGAP/ASIAGAP certification programs

2. Management and operation of JGAP/ASIAGAP

3. Promotion and public relations for JGAP/ASIAGAP

HP: https://jgap.jp/ E-MAIL: info@jgap.jp

Councilors:

Hideaki Shinfuku (Chairman, Shinfuku Seika Co., Ltd.)

Yasuhiro Nakajima (Professor, Women's University of Nutrition)

Hisarou Harihara (Advisor, Sumitomo Corporation)

Director General: Hirokazu Kiuchi (Representative Director, Wagouen Agricultural Cooperative Association)

Senior Managing Director: Hiroshi Ogino (Japan GAP Foundation)

Director: Yasuaki Takeda (Senior Managing Director, Certified NPO GAP Comprehensive Research Institute)

Directors:

Emiko Araki (Visiting Professor, Department of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University)

Shigeru Sato (Professor Emeritus, Joint Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, Iwate University)

Yosuke Tamatsukuri (Representative Director, Union Farm Co., Ltd.)

Toshiyuki Yamada (Representative Director, Koto Kyoto Co., Ltd.)

Auditor: Akihisa Iwamoto (Researcher, Japan Agricultural Research Institute)