Japanese farm minister Shinjiro Koizumi, a strong contender for the premiership, on Friday dismissed criticism regarding his ministry’s management of a licensing agreement for a coveted grape variety, an issue that has drawn an official protest from producers.
The day prior to this announcement, the governor of Yamanashi prefecture, a region renowned for its agricultural output and a significant producer of the highly sought-after Shine Muscat grapes, publicly expressed strong criticism of the ministry’s actions at a press conference, according to a Reuters report.
The governor voiced serious concerns regarding the ministry’s decision to initiate discussions with New Zealand concerning the cultivation of these prized grapes.
A central point of contention was the fact that these crucial discussions were undertaken without the prior knowledge, consultation, or input of the very producers whose livelihoods and regional economy are intimately tied to the successful growth and marketing of Shine Muscat grapes.
Export push
This lack of communication and inclusion of the primary stakeholders has led to considerable dismay and a sense of betrayal among the agricultural community in Yamanashi.
Governor Kotaro Nagasaki and a representative from the local agricultural cooperative met with Koizumi.
They lodged a complaint and urged for steps to expand the market for exports, rather than issuing a cultivation license for production abroad.
Koizumi stated that his ministry would not issue a cultivation license without first consulting producers.
This statement comes as Koizumi faces a crucial vote next week within the Liberal Democratic Party to determine who will succeed Shigeru Ishiba as prime minister.
“Governor Nagasaki has requested that we increase the number of countries to which Japan can export Shine Muscat grapes, and I completely agree,” he said.
We would not proceed with licensing without the understanding of producing regions and governors.
He mentioned that the cabinet had previously approved the granting of licenses for specific products as a fundamental policy approach earlier this year.
Shine Muscat grape variety
The Shine Muscat grape, a highly prized and increasingly popular variety, is the culmination of an intensive development program spanning approximately three decades.
This ambitious undertaking commenced in the late 1980s, driven by various national agricultural research bodies and institutions.
Their collective efforts were focused on creating a grape variety that possessed superior qualities, making it suitable for both domestic consumption and, crucially, for the international export market.
The meticulous breeding and selection processes involved in its creation ultimately yielded a grape with a unique combination of desirable characteristics.
These include its distinctive golden-green skin, a crisp texture, and a remarkably sweet and aromatic flavor profile, often described as having notes of muscatel.
Furthermore, its relatively seedless nature and ease of consumption have contributed to its broad appeal.
The successful development of the Shine Muscat has since positioned it as a flagship agricultural export product, garnering significant interest and demand from various countries and contributing substantially to the agricultural economies involved in its production.
Although initially unprotected outside of Japan, the seedlings were exported to Southeast Asia by China and South Korea. In response, Japan enacted legislation in 2021 to restrict the overseas sale of these seedlings.
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