Measures to support areas with natural constraints and for generational transition
The EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is a comprehensive policy centered on food security, environmental protection, and income compensation. It offers significant insights for Japan on the effectiveness of support measures for the agricultural development of areas with adverse natural or other specific constraints (ANCs), as well as on solutions to promote generational transitions in agricultural entities. The key policy initiatives during the current implementation period from 2023 to 2027 represent a clear strategic shift in response to the structural challenges facing modern agriculture. Therefore, a survey was commissioned to gain insights into the trends in the strategic plan and the functioning of its implementation in selected member states.
Because approximately 40% of Japan’s agricultural land is located in mountainous or hilly areas, it was necessary to select geographically similar European regions, such as the Alps, as research target. Furthermore, since approximately 70% of Japanese agricultural workers are already over 65 years old, generational change is a crucial issue. In contrast, the age structure of the agricultural workforce in Germany and Austria, even in areas with natural constraints, is more evenly balanced than in Japan. Therefore, there was a desire to gain a deeper understanding of EU policies and initiatives to promote generational change in these countries and to identify suitable approaches and promising support measures for introduction into Japanese agricultural policy.
The study involved interviews with government ministries, agricultural organizations, and farms, covering the entire process from policy planning and formulation to on-site implementation. Emphasis was placed on obtaining accurate information based on real on-site conditions, such as the effectiveness and reproducibility (whether similar results can be obtained in different regions and farm sizes) of implemented measures. In order to comprehend the importance of agriculture in each country and to correctly assess the current state of rural areas that underlie these policies, in-depth hearings were held, leading to discussions that often exceeded the scheduled interview time, demonstrating the enthusiasm of all participants involved.
