Business Creation Between Japan and South America

about

This project aims to promote Business Creation between Nikkei agricultural entities and Japanese companies, with an emphasis on: Strengthening the cooperation of food companies in the primary sector of South America and Japan; Stimulate the market for South American products in Japan; Promote the export of agricultural and food products from South America to Japan.



Business Concept

This project aims to promote Business Creation between Nikkei agricultural entities and Japanese companies, with an emphasis on: Strengthening the cooperation of food companies in the primary sector of South America and Japan; Stimulate the market for South American products in Japan; Promote the export of agricultural and food products from South America to Japan. Here we will present some concepts and plans for possible business between Nikkei farmers and Japanese companies.



1.Keep Agricultural Products Fresh

Backgrounds

Due to its vast land area, long-distance transportation is common for agricultural products in South America, and sometimes the transportation distance exceeds 4000 km. Although refrigerator vehicle is used for the transportation, there are problems in maintaining the quality and freshness during long-term transportation. Furthermore, there are problems such as mold and bacteria and the decrease of the selling price at the time of shipment.

<Main Productus>

  1. Vegetables (Broccolis, Cauliflower, Cut vegetables, etc.)
  2. Fruits (Grape, Mango, Strawberry, Citrus, etc.)
  3. Tapioca (Cassava Starch)

Issues
  • Increase of cost and loss of credibility due to product return caused by the deterioration of agricultural products during the long haul.
  • Loss caused by mold and bacteria which grow on the products.
  • Selling price drop because of the overlap of shipping time with other farmers.
Required Technology
(Business Chance)
  • Technology which keeps the freshness of agricultural products (short and medium term).
  • Technology to control the growth of mold/bacteria during the storage period when the humidity is high.
  • Long-term storage technology for agricultural products.
Results
  • Prevent product deterioration and avoid the cost increases and loss of credibility due to returns.
  • Reduce loss by controlling the growth of mold/bacteria on products.
  • Change the vending period to add rarity and value making possible to put higher prices.

  1. Export of packaging materials that maintain the freshness of agricultural products.
  2. Export of packaging materials that suppress the growth of mold/bacteria etc.




2.Soil Improvement for Farmlands

Background

Planting without considering continuous cropping hazards and excessive use of chemical fertilizers are causing pests such as nematode and a consequential deterioration of soil environment.
In Brazil, as awareness of environmental conservation increases, administrative regulations become stricter, and there is a need to reduce the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers.

<Main Productus>

  1. Vegetables
  2. Fruits
  3. Grains

Issues
  • Diseases and pests occur due to continuous cropping and continuous use of chemical fertilizers.
  • Soil compression due to heavy use of large machinery, deterioration of water permeability, lack of oxygen in the rhizosphere.
  • Excessive fertilizer application causes imbalance in each nutrient content and reduces productivity.
Required Technology
(Business Chance)
  • Technology to control the outbreak of pests.
  • Technology that can promote the administration of organic material or their decomposition.
  • Technology that contributes to improving soil nutrient balance and controlling fertilizer application rate.
Results
  • Reduction of agricultural products’ loss, and promotion of crop growth.
  • Promotion of soil agglomeration and improvement of soil physics.
  • Reduction of fertilizer costs, and consequent promotion of crop growth.

  1. Export of soil improving material that contributes to the plant’s growth and controlling the occurrence of pests.
  2. Export of products that promote the decomposition of organic material such as organic additives material or composts.
  3. Export of soil conditioner that works to improve the nutrient balance of soil.




3.Improving Efficiency of Agricultural Work

Background

In South America, while large-scale mechanized agriculture such as grains is carried out, many vegetables and fruits are manually sown, planted, harvested and packaged. Therefore, under the situation of the decrease in the selling price of agricultural products, the burden on the agricultural manager is increasing due to the soaring labor cost and the necessity of employer management.

<Main Productus>

  1. Vegetables
  2. Fruits

Issues
  • Agricultural work related to vegetables, fruits, etc. still depends on human power, and these costs are expensive.
  • Post-harvest work such as packaging is done manually, leading to high labor costs, poor efficiency.
  • Scissors used for work such as grape graining are heavy and break in a short period of time.
Required Technology
(Business Chance)
  • A small agricultural machine suitable for planting vegetables on rugged terrain.
  • Mechanization of post-harvest work with packing machines.
  • Grape scissors that is lightweight and easy-to-use.
Results
  • Cost reduction such as labor cost by mechanization of agricultural work.
  • Work efficiency improvement by introducing machines of appropriate size such as packing machines.
  • Work efficiency such as grain picking can be improved by using tools that are easily handled by women, too.

  1. Export of vegetable planting machine.
  2. Export of packing machine.
  3. Export of good quality grape scissors and other tools to improve work efficiency.




4.Effective Use of Non-standard Products

Background

In South America, since a large number of agricultural products are handled during the harvest period, there are some products that are damaged at post-harvest processes such as rough cleaning and packaging. These products have to be discarded; price collapse is also happened due to the concentration of the selling season. In order to expand income sources, there is a strong demand for technology that makes effective use of discarded agricultural products, including non-standard agricultural products.

<Main Productus>

  1. Vegetables
  2. Fruits


Issues
  • Agricultural products are discarded due to the damages in the process of harvesting, cleaning, and packing, or due to the concentration of selling season.
  • Non-standard agricultural products are traded at low prices.
  • Agricultural product residues with utility value are disposed of as waste.
Required Technology
(Business Chance)
  • Technology that utilizes discarded agricultural products (other than damaged parts) (cuts, juices, purees, etc.).
  • Technology for processing and commercializing non-standard agricultural products (drying, powder, chips, etc.).
  • Technology for utilizing unused parts of agricultural products (peel, seed oil, fragrance, etc.).
Results
  • Agricultural products that had to be discarded are converted into processed products and can be sold.
  • Non-standard agricultural products sold at low prices are converted into processed products and sold with increased added value.
  • Reduce the amount of waste, and the environmental load, and use it as a new source of income.

  1. Agricultural product processing machines (cutting, drying, juice extraction, oil extraction, etc.)




5.Exportation of Agricultural Products and Stuffs to Japan

Background

South American Nikkei agricultural cooperatives have a strong desire to export their products to Japan. But problems such as products’ appearance need to be solved, and it takes time. Here, we list agricultural products that have already been exported to Japan. Also some products that agricultural cooperatives in this project want to export are listed.

<Main Productu>

  1. Grains (Buckwheat)
  2. Fruits
  3. Cacao Beans
  4. Others (Coffee, Tea, Wine)


Issues
  • Consider cultivating new crops (buckwheat) that grow in a short period of time. That don’t need to change the current planting system and sell them to Japan in order to raise profits on limited farmland.
  • Searching for new sales channels for agricultural products (cacao beans, etc.) to Japan.
  • Seeking a sales channel for South American foods to Japan.
Required Technology
(Business Chance)
  • Knowledge of procedures such as regulated pesticides and required quality for exporting buckwheat to Japan.
  • Fermentation method and handling method of cacao beans, knowledge of procedures which is necessary for export.
  • Knowledge of procedures required to export South American food.
Results
  • Enables export to Japan, which is strict about quality, etc.

  1. Export South American raw materials and foods to Japan