Biodiversity / Food / Water

October 25, 2010

 

Japanese Ministry Starts Model Project to Show Consumers the Carbon Footprint of Agricultural Products

Keywords: Food Government 

Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced on August 2, 2010, that it would distribute subsidies to model projects that will calculate and then indicate on product labels the carbon footprint (CFP) of marketed agricultural and marine products to promote easier visualization of the carbon dioxide equivalent emissions stemming from their production. The ministry chose Mitsubishi Research Institute Inc. (MRI) for the subsidiary enterprise to assist with the implementation of projects.

There are two programs to be carried out in the projects, from August 2010 through March 2011: (1) preparation of a draft for product category rules (PCRs) on CFP calculation and indication for each kind of product, and (2) calculation and indication of CFP of agricultural and marine products. MRI is in charge of managing the programs, including inviting applicants and selecting program implementers to participate.

Program 1 targets "wheat and beans," "tea leaves," and "raw milk" and other products proposed by applicants, and three to four items are examined under this program. In addition to these three, program 2 targets "ordinary rice," "vegetables and fruits," "bananas," and "flowers," for which PCR drafts were prepared in fiscal 2009.

Under program 1, working groups for each item will prepare a PCR draft and submit it to the PCR examination committee in charge of discussion of the entire project. As for program 2, the implementers will collect the necessary data, calculate the CEP of products, and then sell them with a label on a trial basis.

Japan's Ministry to Visualize Effects of CO2 Reduction (Related JFS article)
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/027160.html

Posted: 2010/10/25 06:00:15 AM

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