Exploratory study of urban food policy in Japan

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06260
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 41010:Agricultural and food economics-related
• Research Institution: Fukuyama City University
• Principal Investigator: Kiyohara Akiko 福山市立大学, 都市経営学部, 教授 (20351968)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 上田 由喜子 龍谷大学, 農学部, 教授 (40310841) ; 山口 道利 龍谷大学, 農学部, 准教授 (40709359) ; 大門 創 國學院大學, 研究開発推進機構, 准教授 (70514321)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: フードセキュリティ / 食料安全保障 / 食料品アクセス / 社会経済的格差 / 都市食料政策 / 地域食料政策 / 食品小売業 / フードシステム論

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This research project focused on examining the issue of "urban hunger" in our nation's cities and surrounding areas, investigating its realities and potential solutions. By analyzing the distribution of grocery stores in Hiroshima and Okayama Prefectures and the relationship between population and household composition in each municipality, we found a correlation with the types and numbers of supermarkets located there. Furthermore, survey results revealed a link between the number of food purchasing channels, the types of stores where people shop, and the content of their diets.
Based on these findings, we discussed Japan's agricultural and food policies with administrative officials. The discussions highlighted the necessity of understanding the state of agriculture, food manufacturing, distribution, and retail industries in each municipality, as well as people's food purchasing behaviors, to ensure individual food security.

Free Research Field

社会経済農学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究は、農業経済学、公衆栄養学、都市計画学の知見を共有しながら遂行され、「一人一人のフードセキュリティの確保」という社会課題への新しいアプローチを提示した。とくに、食料品への物理的アクセス、経済的アクセスの状態を把握し、人々の食料品の消費、買い物行動の関連について地域単位で把握する試みは、今後、構築が求められる地域食料政策のあり方に関して、一定の知見をもたらしたと評価できる。