City of Miyakonojo to Provide School Lunches Using 50 % Locally Produced Food

The city of Miyakonojo in southern Japan's Miyazaki Prefecture formulated a plan in March 2012 to promote dietary education using locally produced agricultural and livestock products. Within five years from FY 2012 to 2016, the city aims to increase the ratio of local agricultural products used in school lunches to 50 percent as compared to 40.3 percent in 2010. It has set target goals for 10 items.

Among the targets, the city intends to increase the ratio of people who hope to pass down their local cuisine to future generations, to 85 percent compared to 73.5 percent in 2010. Another target is to increase the number of people who know what dietary education is to 80 percent compared to 45.6 percent in 2010.

A related questionnaire revealed such issues as one-third of all respondents think that their dietary habits are not good, and that their dependence on food from overseas is growing. Based on the survey results, the city formulated five basic policies including the establishment of an environment suitable to teach dietary education to children. The city intends to promote dietary education and a "locally-produced, locally-consumed" way of life in cooperation with the local government, families, schools, and the local community.

Majority of People Surveyed Think Japan Should Increase Food Self-Sufficiency (Related JFS article)
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Posted: 2012/06/02 06:00:15 AM