Japan's food producers are looking to promote domestic consumption of rice flour-based products, as a weak yen and Russia's invasion of Ukraine have substantially increased the cost of importing other types of grain, which could affect food security in the future.
Consumption of rice as a dietary staple has been declining in Japan, as more people turn to bread and noodles. The country's demand for rice for the year from this July is estimated at 6.9 million tons, falling below the 7 million ton mark for the first time.
Against the backdrop of such dietary shifts, the government has been facilitating farmers' transition to the production of rice for animal fodder or for making rice flour by giving out subsidies to ease oversupply.