Considering Consumer Behavior and Food Waste Reduction Systems: Utilizing the Milk Game

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K15611
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 41010:Agricultural and food economics-related
• Research Institution: Tokyo University of Agriculture
• Principal Investigator: Sato Mizuho 東京農業大学, 国際食料情報学部, 教授 (80738683)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 食品ロス・廃棄 / フードサプライチェーン / 食の商習慣 / 持続可能性 / シリアスゲーム / ゲーミング＆シミュレーション / ゲーム理論

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we developed a milk supply chain game (Milky Chain Game) and conducted both subject experiments and simulation experiments to examine the impact of different food trade practices (1/3 rule, 1/2 rule) on players’ decision-making and waste. In the subject experiments, even when deadlines were set for manufacturers and retailers, the impact on waste was minimal because it became easier to adjust the sales price based on these deadlines. On the other hand, in the simulation experiments, game theory-based analysis showed that imposing the 1/3 rule could eliminate the equilibrium of last-in, first-out, which tends to generate waste. Furthermore, under the 1/2 rule, it was possible to reduce waste without compromising the interests of the supply chain stakeholders.

Free Research Field

農業経済学，フードシステム

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本の食品ロス・廃棄の原因の１つとして食の商習慣である1/3ルールが問題視されている．しかし，以前に行われた実証実験では，ルールを緩和することで逆に食品ロス・廃棄が増加する商品も見られていた．本研究の結果からも，それを裏付けるように，必ずしもこの商習慣が廃棄を増大させるとは限らないことが示唆された．したがって，本研究は，今後，食のサプライチェーンの施策などを検討する際の基礎としての意義がある．