MAFF Requests 50.2 Billion Yen for Food Tech Sector to Support Startup Technology Development
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has requested 50.2 billion yen in its budget for the 2025 fiscal year to promote "food tech," the next generation of food technology. This initiative aims to address Japan's food-related challenges and foster the growth of new industries.
This budget specifically strengthens support for startup companies. Concretely, the plan focuses on three key areas—plant factories, food machinery, and the development of new food products—with the government taking the lead in advancing research and development. By doing so, the ministry intends to establish mass production systems to introduce these new technologies into society.
Furthermore, "precision fermentation," a technology currently garnering significant attention, has been explicitly identified as a target for support. Precision fermentation is a technique that uses microorganisms to produce specific ingredients and is anticipated worldwide as a sustainable method of food production.
Looking at the budget breakdown, 1.8 billion yen is slated to be allocated to plant factories. By accelerating these technological developments, the government aims to improve Japan's food self-sufficiency rate and enhance the international competitiveness of related industries.
If this budget is officially approved, it is expected that new technologies and services that support the future of food in Japan will reach our daily lives more quickly.