Environmental problems cloud Japanese prospects

摘要

Livestock development targets set by Japan's government for 2010 include the adoption of measures to treat pig wastes and to use them effectively. Outside the landrich northern region of Hokkaido, the authorities also want to see mid-sized herds of about 150 sows under family management rather than larger enterprises, in order to reduce the managerial burden involved in waste handling. This second aim rather goes against recent trends, notes a new hook published by Japan's Food and Agriculture Policy Research Center (FAPRC), a nonprofit institution based in Tokyo. Although pig production on family-run mixed farms used to be regarded as a good model, many such units have closed because environmental problems became too pressing.