日本設定明確糧食自給率之政策目標，凝聚國內共識，結合民間團體推動提升糧食自給率之國民運動，喚起全國消費者對糧食自給率的重視。但我國面對逐年下降的糧食自給率，在糧食政策調整中，維持適當自給率仍非政策調整之主要考量，國民對此議題漠不關心。在國際糧價高漲及全球糧食危機的陰影籠罩之下，我們必須更加正視糧食安全的問題。尤其是在台灣糧食自給率已下跌至30%左右的低水準時，我們亟有必要參考日本的做法，調整我國的糧食安全政策。 Taiwan, one of the primary food-importing countries in the world, is highly dependent on the import of raw materials for domestic food supply. Reporting a 32.7% food self-sufficiency rate, both Taiwan and Japan are laggards among the developed countries. In recent 1-2 years, due to successive food crises in the world, there is a need to review and update the existing food safety policies and measures to improve the present situation.
Japan, an island country like Taiwan has similar eating habits. For this reason, it is worth studying Japan’s food self-sufficiency policy. Japan has been well aware of the importance of food self-sufficiency. In March 2010 Japan proposed food self-sufficiency policy to increase the rate from 40% to 50% by 2020. The mean of this policy is to push towards agricultural productivity and at the same time, to encourage to keep quality agricultural lands to be used for farming.
The study is to compare and analyze the food security policy between Taiwan and Japan to improve Taiwan’s policy. Particularly, the policy in Taiwan to increase rice field productivity by introducing a successful case of adjustment on rice field utilization in Japan. Fields that were not farmed due to excess rice in the past are now being encouraged to be farmed again. Rice can also be used for feed purposes.
Japan set up a distinct policy for food self-sufficiency rate to get a national consensus. National events sponsored by civic groups were held to promote the significance of food self-sufficiency to consumers in Japan. These events have helped to increase the food self-sufficiency rate and to let Japanese consumers recognize its importance. However, in Taiwan, even though the food self-sufficiency rate has been decreasing these days, it is not of major issue to adjust the policy to maintain an adequate rate. Most of the Taiwanese have no concerns regarding this issue. Facing the fact of food security matter and experiencing the status of our self-sufficiency rate with less than 30%, it is now time to set up Taiwan’s own food security policy by learning the important measures practiced in Japan.
