In order to strengthen food security against the backdrop of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and climate change, the government will pass amendments to the Basic Act on Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, which is considered the "constitution of agricultural policy," and related bills at a cabinet meeting on the 27th. It was decided.
The government approved at a cabinet meeting on the 27th a bill to revise the Basic Act on Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs, which sets out the basic principles of agricultural policy, and two related bills.
Among these, the proposed amendment to the Basic Law adds "ensuring food security" to the basic principles of the law, and aims to ensure stable imports of agricultural products and agricultural materials, as well as strengthening the management base of agricultural corporations. The company plans to work on improving productivity using smart technology.
In addition, under the new bill that includes measures to address food shortages, if the government determines that it is necessary to prevent food shortages, it will establish a task force headed by the Prime Minister and It is possible to set the quantities of important items such as wheat and soybeans and related materials to be secured, and to request producers to expand production.
Furthermore, if it is difficult to resolve the situation, the government may instruct businesses to submit or change plans regarding production and shipping, and businesses that do not submit plans will be subject to a fine of up to 200,000 yen.
The government's policy is to pass these bills through the current ordinary session of the Diet.
Agriculture Minister Sakamoto: ``We aim to enact the bill as soon as possible''
Regarding the amendments to the Basic Act on Food, Agriculture, and Rural Areas, which were approved at the cabinet meeting on the 27th, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Sakamoto said at a press conference after the cabinet meeting that ``abnormal weather caused by climate change and population growth in Asia and Africa are The demand for food has increased due to the current situation, and it is no longer possible to purchase food as freely as before.Furthermore, there are also events that have made trade unstable, such as conflicts in various places and logistics disruptions caused by the new coronavirus. We have been considering this amendment for about a year and a half in light of these changes in the situation, and we will continue to work hard to pass the bill as soon as possible."