"We need a Green Revolution in our country"

Hiromasa YONEKURA Chairman of the Board of Councillors, Nippon Keidanren President, Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.

After having worked as Vice Chairman for four years, I was appointed Chairman of the Board of Councillors at the General Assembly of May 28, 2008. I will do my very best to support Chairman Mitarai and his executives, by providing advice and suggestions as required in a speedy manner. I would appreciate your continued assistance and cooperation.

It was in April two years ago that I contributed my article to the Opening Message of The Economic Trend. There I said that we need a Green Revolution in Africa. Now, two years later, I am beginning to feel that it may be here in our country that a Green Revolution is necessary. Obviously, it will be excellent if we can work out a plan that we will bring a successful Green Revolution to Africa, achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and ensure Japan's long-term security of food supply. However, the current situation calls for urgent action. Demand for natural resources is surging as the BRICs and other emerging economies continue strong growth. Pressing needs for action to address global warming and soaring crude oil prices are giving rise to a scramble for bio-fuels. Also frequent droughts and floods are causing serious damage. In response, the world's major food producing and exporting countries have stepped up efforts to restrict their export of agricultural products. Moreover, Japan has been facing difficulties in winning bids in the trade of fish caught overseas. Under these circumstances, can an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) or Free Trade Agreement (FTA) really contribute to our national food security? According to the results of the opinion poll regarding food education, announced by the Cabinet Office this past May, 44% of the respondents said that they have some concern or anxiety over food in their daily life, and 34% of these respondents cited food supply in future as a reason for their concern. Against this backdrop, the Japanese government has taken action promptly. The recent proposal by the Strategy Council for Envisioning the Future of Food and the "New Agricultural Administration for the 21^st Century — 2008" recognize these serious concerns. Nippon Keidanren is extending full cooperation to the agricultural industry through various efforts made by member companies, such as making proposals for upgrading agricultural equipment as well as crop variety improvement.

A while ago, a newspaper headline said, "Hunger Troubles the World." Food riots are breaking out in Asia and Africa, while Japan wastes every year 19 million tons of food, about three times more than the volume of the food aid around the world. How should we interpret this? At the coming Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit, food issues, often called "a silent tsunami," will be high on the agenda. Our country should lose no time in starting a "Green Revolution."