Biotechnology in Agriculture

— Latest update: December 2023 —

In 2020, the Japanese agricultural biotechnology market was valued at about 615 billion yen. Japan remains one of the world’s largest per-capita importers of food and feed produced using modern biotechnologies. In Marketing Year 2021/2022, Japan imported 15 million metric tons (MT) of corn, 3,5 million MT of soybeans and 2,1 million MT of canola in which genetic engineering is predominantly used. Japan also imports huge amounts of processed foods containing biotechnology-produced ingredients.

USDA FAS, Japan: Agricultural Biotechnology Annual, 2023
EU-Japan Centre, Latest trends in biotechnology research in Japan, 2021

Table of Contents

• Government Initiatives
• GE Crops
• Animal Biotechnology
• Legal Framework
• Regulatory System
• Food Labelling
• Expert Reports & Webinars
• Further Reading
• Relevant Organisations and Trade Fairs