On April 23th, 2021, Megumi Avigail Yoshitomi, a Visiting Researcher at the Center for Rule-making Strategies, Tama University, gave a presentation at an online symposium titled “Technologies to Change the Food System” at the Global Technology Governance Summit (GTGS) follow-up event hosted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).

In the session featuring Visiting Researcher Yoshitomi, the following opinions were raised:

(1) It is important for those involved in food technology to visualize and communicate the benefits it can bring to society and consumers
(2) It is important for a wide range of affiliate authorized people, including “last mile” business operators that are closer to consumers, to understand food technologies; and
(3) It is important to have sufficient communication between the public and private sectors and to understand in advance the risks posed by new technologies.

For more details, please click here.

On April 14, Megumi Avigail Yoshitomi, a visiting researcher at our institute, spoke at a webinar co-organized by OECD and MAFF.

She gave a presentation on “Japanese Efforts to Establish Rules for Cellular Agriculture”, which was followed by a panel discussion.

Webinar title: “Making Better Policies for Food Systems”

Date: Wednesday, April 14th, 16:00-18:00
Method of Presentation: Web-based (Zoom software) with simultaneous interpretation

[Program]
16:00 “Introduction”
Dr. Lee Ann Jackson, Director, Agriculture, Food and Trade Markets Division, OECD Trade and Agriculture Department

16:10 “Making Better Policies for Food Systems”
Dr. Koen Deconinck, Policy Analyst, OECD Trade and Agriculture Department

16:45 “Initiatives for the UN Food System Summit”
Ms. Ritsuko Yoneda, International Negotiator, International Organizations Group, International Affairs Department, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)

16:50 “Insects Surpass Proteins in Their Functions”
(Atsushi Ido, President, Ainan Liberacio Co., Ltd.)

17:15 “Japan’s efforts to formulate rules in the field of cellular agriculture”
Megumi Avigail Yoshitomi, PR Manager, Public Relations Committee, Secretariat of Cellular Agriculture Research Group, Center for Rule-making Strategies, Tama University

17:40 “Panel Discussion”
Members above and Naoe Yakiya, Representative of WFP (United Nations World Food Programme) Japan Office

18:00 “End”

On April 12th, CRS hosted a symposium titled Harm Reduction Life Style: Towards the Promotion of International Rule-Making in the Healthcare Industry” at the Aso Civic Hall.

In this symposium, we introduced the summary of discussions held at the “Policy Research Group for HRL”(Study Group for the Rule-making of Harm Reduction Life Style) with private companies and organizations. The group was established at the Liberal Democratic Party’s Rule-making Strategy Diet Members Group (Chairman: Akira Amari) last year.

”Harm Reduction Life Style (HRL)” is a proposed new lifestyle, which would allow us to reduce the risk of health hazards like lifestyle-related diseases without difficulties. We must increase the availability of options  of heath products that will reduce health hazards so that we can create a healthy aged society.

This group has been discussing with private companies and organizations on discussions related to international rule-making for promoting the health industry to encourage HRL.

At the beginning of the symposium, Akira Amari (Chairman, Rule-making Strategy Diet Members Group), and Norihiro Nakayama (Secretary General, Rule-making Strategy Diet Members Group) gave keynote speeches.

Toshifumi Kokubun (Director, CRS), gave a presentation titled “The market creation with China: Harm Reduction Lifestyle and the international rule-making of HRL’s Health Management” and addressedtold the importance of HRL Policies and our current difficulties.

You can see this symposium on YouTube video below.

List of companies presenting at the symposium (in alphabetical order)

・Ajinomoto Co., Inc.
・Ezaki Glico Company, Limited
・Quantum Operation, Inc.
・Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.
・Japan Disease Prediction Institute Inc.
・Appliances Company , Panasonic Corporation
・British American Tobacco Japan, Ltd.