A group of Diet members from Hokuryu Town (Hokkaido) held a local discussion meeting on the amendment of the Seed and Seedlings Act [No.1] Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association

Friday, September 25, 2020

On Thursday, September 10th, with the introduction of the Hokkaido Seed Association (Chairman: Tokuji Hisada), a local discussion meeting was held in Kitaryū Town with members of the Japanese Communist Party parliamentary group to discuss issues surrounding the Seed and Seedlings Act.

Overview of the Diet Members Group

Members of the Diet

The members of the Diet delegation are House of Councillors member Kami Tomoko (Communist Party), House of Representatives member Tamura Takaaki (Communist Party), Tai Kyosei (secretary to Kami), Kawabe Takashi (secretary to Tamura), Yamaguchi Kaori (secretary to Tamura), former House of Representatives member Hatayama Kazuya (Communist Party), Oda Ichiro, Secretary General of the Hokkaido Office of the Japanese Communist Party Diet Members' Group, Hisada Tokuji, Chairman of the Hokkaido Seed Association (Visiting Professor at Hokkaido University), and Okuno Teppei (Director of NHK's Sapporo Base Broadcasting Station).


schedule

In Hokuryu Town, the participants had a discussion and field tour with the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative (Chairman Takada Yukio), a discussion with members of the Honoka Agricultural Cooperative (Representative Mizutani Shigeki), and a discussion with Kamii Tatsuya, who practices self-cutting forestry in Hokuryu Town.

9:00-12:00 Discussion on the Seed Law and field tour of Kurosengoku soybeans at the JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch Meeting Room
13:30-15:20 Discussion with members at the Honoka Agricultural Cooperative Office
15:30-17:00 Discussion on self-logging forestry with Tatsuya Ueii at Restaurant Fusha in Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen

A conversation with Kurosengoku Business Cooperative (Chairman Yukio Takada) (at JA Kitasorachi Hokuryu Branch)



A talk by Ryoji Kikura, former president of JA Kitasorachi

Based on the materials distributed, an explanation was given about Hokuryu Town's agricultural initiatives.


Under the general moderation of Mr. Kikura, participants gave speeches.

Member of the House of Councillors, Tomoko Kami



Connection with Hokuryu Town

My connection with Hokuryu Town dates back to 1991 (Heisei 3). At the time, I was a proportional representation candidate for the House of Councillors and was visiting various parts of Hokkaido when I visited Hokuryu Town. Ryoji Kikura was the representative director and chairman of the Hokuryu Town Agricultural Cooperative.

At the time, atopic dermatitis among children was on the rise. From the perspective that "what children eat must be safe," we visited Hokuryu Town to inspect the rice "Yukihikari," which is said to be effective in improving atopic dermatitis.

One comment that made a strong impression on me during my visit was, "Please clarify whether agriculture is necessary in Japan or not." In other words, this comment was made in response to doubts about the current state of Japanese agriculture at the time, which did not seem to require agriculture.

Later, during a question in the Diet, I submitted the question "Does Japan need agriculture or not?" as a local opinion from Hokkaido.

I was deeply impressed with the importance of agriculture, as "food is life."

Political trends

I have been a member of the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee as a member of the House of Councillors since 2001. As Japan moved forward with the liberalization of agricultural imports, an "aggressive agricultural policy" that prioritized efficiency in agriculture was promoted, and it seemed as though important things were being overlooked.

Following Prime Minister Abe's announcement of his resignation at the end of August, the party is currently in the midst of a presidential election. I believe this is a sign of a deadlock in both domestic and foreign affairs. I believe we are at a critical juncture where we must make a fundamental shift in the direction of politics.


The purpose of this visit to Hokuryu

Currently, in the Diet, petition signatures are being collected from all over the country in response to the proposed amendments to the Seeds and Seedlings Act, which was approved by the Cabinet, and much discussion has been sparked online, so the amendments to the Seeds and Seedlings Act are now under continued deliberation.

The purpose of this visit is to conduct a thorough investigation at this stage in preparation for deliberations at the next Diet session.

I would like to go to the Diet after interviewing farmers in detail about the efforts and difficulties they face in "self-seed production," as well as the impact and problems that would arise if the law were passed.

Furthermore, it is important that farmers are fully aware of the current situation and issues surrounding the Seed and Seedlings Act, and we would like to convey this information correctly to them.

Takaaki Tamura, Member of the House of Representatives



I am a member of the House of Representatives, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Committee, Kyushu/Okinawa proportional representation, and was born in Kitakyushu in 1961 (Showa 36).

A proposal to revive the Seed Act is under discussion, and local governments are also enacting ordinances, creating a growing trend toward the importance of seeds.

The proposed amendment to the Seed and Seedlings Act is an important bill to protect Japan's excellent breeding knowledge, and this is an unprecedented and rare case in which it has been postponed and not brought up for deliberation in the regular Diet session.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan's agricultural self-sufficiency rate is declining, and public opinion is growing that Japan's agriculture should not continue as it is. Given this situation, I believe the opportunity to hear and discuss the views of those in the agricultural field is extremely valuable and timely, and I am truly grateful for this. Thank you.

Yukio Takada, Chairman of Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association



History of the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative

I was a farmer until I was 60 years old. Kurosengoku soybeans, a native Hokkaido variety, were revived in Hokkaido in 2004 (Heisei 16). With the sole desire to revive the robust Kurosengoku soybean, I established a corporation in 2007 (Heisei 19).

Although there have been many twists and turns over the past 15 years, we are now in a stable state of production and sales.

Two years ago, in 2018 (Heisei 30), our association was certified as part of the "5th Discover Treasures of Rural Areas" sponsored by the Cabinet Secretariat and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. 32 excellent examples were selected from 1,015 applicants nationwide. In the Hokkaido region, three organizations, including Kurosengoku Business Cooperative, were selected from 98 applicants. The selection certificate presentation ceremony and networking event were held at the Prime Minister's Official Residence.

The legendary Kurosengoku soybeans

Kurosengoku soybeans are known for being "safe, secure, natural and healthy" and we want to let everyone know that these soybeans are good for your health thanks to the power of the sun and the soil of Hokkaido.

As for the seeds, Kurosengoku comes in two varieties: the native species and the new, improved variety "Ryukei No. 3."

In 1942 (Showa 17), the Hokkaido Research Organization Central Agricultural Experiment Station named the native variety "Early Kurosengoku," an excellent field crop variety for use as animal feed, livestock feed, and green manure in the Tokachi region. However, with the development of various green manures and chemical fertilizers, the Kurosengoku soybean fell out of use, and in 1959 (Showa 34), its registration was abolished, and it was temporarily discontinued.

In 2001, Jun Tanaka, an agricultural researcher from Morimachi, Hokkaido, discovered a native variety of Kurosengoku soybean, and 28 out of 50 seeds successfully germinated. This is why the soybean is called the legendary Kurosengoku soybean.

In 2005 (Heisei 17), cultivation of Kurosengoku soybeans began in Hokuryu Town, Takikawa City, and Otobe Town. Then in 2007 (Heisei 19), the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative was established in Hokuryu Town, and continues to this day.

The improved new variety "Ryukei No. 3"

The business got off to a good start, securing an annual yield of around 360 tons. In 2009 (Heisei 21), during the economic downturn, the middleman to whom the company sold went bankrupt. With inventory still in stock and no prospect of receiving payments, the company found itself in a position where it was unable to pay producers.

To make matters worse, the late autumn snowfall created a nightmare in which Kurosengoku's fields were buried in snow just before harvest.

Kurosengoku soybeans are a type of soybean that has a high cumulative temperature (the sum of daily temperatures) and is sown early and harvested in late autumn before the snowfall.


Therefore, we decided to work on improving the variety, aiming for early maturity, strong lodging resistance, and stable high yields.

In 2009, we asked Professor Takashi Sanbuichi, Professor Emeritus at Hokkaido Junior College, Takushoku University, and Advisor (former Chairman and Director) of the Hokkaido Agricultural Association, a public interest incorporated foundation, to help improve the Kurosengoku variety. He enthusiastically accepted the request, saying, "I understand, I'll improve the variety out of friendship," and so research into artificial breeding began.

In 2014, using a three-year subsidy from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Hokuryu Town Consortium was organized to promote variety improvement.

After extensive research and breeding, Kurosengoku soybeans have been improved to be superior soybeans that can be harvested about a week earlier, are more resistant to lodging, and are expected to result in an actual increase in yield.

In 2016, a variety application was submitted to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for the breeding line number "Ryukei No. 3," which was accepted, and general cultivation began.

Seeds are the "beginning of farmers"

Currently, approximately 50% of production is divided into the native variety "Kurosengoku soybean" and the improved new variety "Ryukei No. 3," and they are produced and sold separately.

Regarding "Ryukei No. 3," we have signed a license agreement with the developer of the variety, Professor Takashi Sambuichi, and are paying a license fee to Professor Sambuichi under the agreement.

Seeds are the "beginning of a farmer," and I believe they are the most important part. We, the members of the cooperative, feel it is our mission to lovingly cultivate the native Kurosengoku soybeans and the Kurosengoku soybean variety "Ryukei No. 3" that Professor Sensei has bred.

exchange of opinions

question:The registered variety is the improved "Ryukei No. 3," but what about the "native variety Kurosenkoku"?

・Answer (Chairman Takada):The native Kurosengoku soybean variety is grown in various parts of Hokkaido.

question:Is the registered variety "Ryukei No. 3" self-harvested?

・Answer (Chairman Takada):That's right. We are cultivating Kurosengoku soybeans for use as seeds for "Ryukei No. 3" in Hideki Okayama's field near Iwamizawa.

Mr. Hisada:

There will be no problems unless the registrant of the improved seed raises the price or refuses to sell it.

However, now that foreign companies and large domestic corporations with genome editing technology have the ability to create new varieties that are extremely similar to native species, there is a risk that companies may plunder the rights to the seeds, so I think we need to keep a close eye on this in the future.

Chairman Takada:

Currently, one of the problems with Kurosengoku soybeans is that they have low resistance to pests and diseases, such as the soybean cyst nematode. Therefore, we are working to improve the Kurosengoku soybean variety by using the white soybean variety "Suzumaru R" to make it resistant to nematodes.

I have built a relationship of immense trust with Professor Takashi Sambuichi. His efforts are no small feat, and I am deeply humbled by the fact that he has dedicated his life to the research and development of Kurosengoku.

Paper MP:

We must proceed with this in mind, keeping in mind that in the future large companies may use genome technology to improve breeding.

Other comments:

For example, there is a risk that in the future, as a result of genetic analysis, a company that has used genome technology to improve the current "Kurosengoku soybean, which has low resistance to nematodes" to "Kurosengoku soybean with resistance to nematodes" could register the variety and release it to the world as a new variety.

-If we research and develop a Kurosengoku soybean that is more productive, has the same taste as the current Kurosengoku soybeans, is nematode resistant, and grows quickly, and then sell it in other regions, if it spreads, the ``value'' of Kurosengoku soybeans will be taken away.

Chairman Takada:

There are many concerns about the future that could be difficult, and we plan to deal with the legal aspects as they arise, consulting with advisors and other experts.

However, we have an immeasurable trust and passion for Kurosengoku soybeans, including from Professor Sanbuichi Takashi, who has dedicated his life to improving the varieties, the producers who have overcome hardships to cultivate them, and the consumers who have supported and cheered on Kurosengoku soybeans as fans for many years.

As long as we have this feeling, we are working hard, deeply believing that we can overcome any concerns and ensure the existence of safe, secure and healthy Kurosengoku soybeans.


Paper MP:

As Chairman Takada said, building a relationship of trust with consumers is extremely important.

Previously, under the Seed Act (Major Agricultural Crop Seed Act), major agricultural crops were defined as rice, soybeans, and wheat.

The documents submitted to the Council for Regulatory Reform only concerned rice, and no documents on soybeans or wheat were submitted. At that point, the government's attention seemed to be focused on rice.

It is unclear how the government will promote this in the future, but because rice is the staple food of Japan, there was a law that required that the seeds be clearly defined. However, the government has abolished this law.

In the case of rice, Mitsui Chemicals Agro Inc.'s hybrid rice variety "Mitsuhikari" is an F1 variety, which means producers have to purchase it every year, and with the price of seeds rising every year, it is a rice that producers are constantly worried about.

In response to the basic question of why the Seed Act is being revised this time, everyone agrees that the government's purpose is to "prevent the excellent breeding knowledge developed in Japan from leaking overseas and to protect intellectual property rights."

However, the specific legal changes required to implement this will include banning home seed collection, which has been freely practiced until now.

Since permission is not required for unregistered native species and general varieties, it was thought that things would remain almost the same as before even after the law was revised. However, when I actually looked into it, I was surprised to find that there are many registered varieties in Hokkaido.

Farmers sometimes use registered varieties and self-produce seeds to create superior mutant varieties. Banning what has been passed down through the efforts of farmers could result in the deprivation of farmers' rights.


Chairman Takada:

For Kurosengoku soybeans, we tried to register a "regional collective trademark," but because Kurosengoku soybeans are grown in various parts of Hokkaido, it is difficult to secure a fixed regional brand, and registration was impossible.

question:I understand that the seeds of Kurosengoku soybeans (Ryukei No. 3) are grown by a producer named Okayama in Iwamizawa City. Are they cultivated with strict standards?



Answer (Chairman Takada):

"Mr. Okayama's farm is located near Dr. Sambuichi's home, and Dr. Sambuichi visits the farm regularly to inspect and monitor it. The seeds harvested there, "Ryukei No. 3," are all collected and stored in the warehouse of the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association (Hokuryu Town).

In addition, for native varieties, the best beans are selected from the seeds collected by the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative (Hokuryu Town) and used as seeds for the following year, which are then distributed to producers in each region.

The Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association manages all of the harvested beans and sowing seeds. In the warehouse, the native variety "Kurosengoku soybeans" and the improved variety "Ryukei No. 3" are completely separated and carefully managed to prevent mixing.

question:Is the cultivation method for "Ryukei No. 3" different from that for regular soybeans? How do you handle the use of pesticides?

Answer (Chairman Takada):

Cultivation methods vary depending on the region, and are cultivated under the guidance of the local agricultural cooperative. We try to minimize the use of herbicides as much as possible.

These Kurosengoku soybeans are prone to the soybean root moth (a pest) that infests the beans from the time they flower until they are ripe. This is a very troublesome insect that always finds its way into the tasty beans and eats them. After flowering, we spray insecticide once or twice to control this pest.

Furthermore, we ensure traceability of production information regarding cultivation history, including the pesticides used, and are thoroughly managing the information. We are currently in the process of introducing highly accurate color sorting machines.

question:Can Kurosengoku soybeans be grown in any region of Hokkaido?

Answer (Chairman Takada):

Areas with large temperature differences are suitable for cultivation. In Hokkaido, there is a cultivation field in Shibetsu City, Kamikawa District, but this is currently the northernmost area.

Furthermore, Kurosengoku soybeans have a higher accumulated temperature than regular soybeans.

Accumulated temperature is the total temperature added up every day from the time the seeds are planted until the fruit ripens. While normal beans have an accumulated temperature of 2,300 degrees, Kurosengoku beans have an accumulated temperature of 2,700 degrees, and require a lot of sunlight.

Because they receive more sunlight (light) to grow, they are strong beans that are sweet and delicious.

Kurosengoku soybeans are also a crop that is sown earlier and harvested later than other beans.

Seeding is done immediately after the Golden Week holidays in May. Sowing too early can cause problems such as frost, weeds, and insects. Harvesting is at the end of October, just before snowfall, making it very difficult to decide when to harvest.

Furthermore, Kurosengoku soybeans are very delicate beans that are sensitive to the weather, so the harvest yield from year to year fluctuates greatly.

We live in a world where the number of health-conscious consumers is increasing year by year. We believe that eating food without additives and grown with the power of nature will lead to good health.

Ryoji Kikura:

In recent years, the number of people with atopic dermatitis has been increasing year by year. Recent research has confirmed that Yukihikari rice is effective in suppressing rice allergies.

Hokuryu Town continues to cultivate "Yukihikari" rice. The area under cultivation for this rice has drastically decreased, and Hokuren only supplies seeds once every two years. The town of Hokuryu is determined not to let this variety die out, so they harvest their own seeds every year. They feel a sense of crisis that such excellent varieties are decreasing and their value is being lost.

Paper MP:

The purpose of the abolition of the Seed Act is to prevent the outflow of knowledge overseas. Furthermore, the seeds of superior varieties that have been managed and researched by the government and developed through the efforts of the government and farmers over many years will be made available to the private sector.

Since the research was conducted at testing facilities under legal supervision, it required equipment, money, and personnel. The government has issued a notice to provide the knowledge and expertise that has been cultivated to the private sector. This private sector includes overseas companies. This creates a contradiction. This could lead to the outflow of superior varieties to overseas markets.

In the case of Shine Muscat grapes and strawberries, whose seeds were exported overseas, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries could have prevented the seeds from being exported overseas if it had registered them overseas as a country, but it did not do this.

Isn't it strange that the responsibility is being placed on farmers to produce their own seeds?

Mr. Huang Cang:

Farmers are under the mistaken impression that "agriculture will advance if we provide technology to the private sector in a rational and scientific manner." They are surprised at the lack of opposition, as they do not have a firm grasp of the actual situation.

"Seeds are the source of life." I don't understand why something that has been so important to me up until now needs to be revised.

Councilman Tamura:



I think we need to think about what the true nature of the government, the business world, foreign companies, and what lies beyond them is. It seems to be expressing, "Buy standardized products at a price. Don't do anything more than that. That's the most stable thing to do."

While we talk about preventing the leakage of knowledge overseas, what about border control? If you put seeds in your pocket, it's easy to take them overseas. If we really want to prevent knowledge from leaking overseas, I think the best thing to do is for countries to register them with each other, as the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has said.

To blame the farmers on the ground is putting the cart before the horse, and we need to see what lies beyond that. As Mr. Kikura said, it feels like a "sense of crisis" is rapidly increasing.

Mr. Huang Cang:

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it clear that there are some foods that we cannot continue to rely on from overseas. We will have to involve huge capital to grow only high-value products. Moreover, we will be restricted from growing them in our own country, even by local farmers.

The biggest problem is the consumer, who can only get what is regulated and has to pay a high price.

Our ancestors have continued to protect their lives through food, and have always valued food as a means of survival.

Mr. Hisada:



Before the war, Japan was a rice-producing country. After the war, America brought surplus wheat to Japan, and a bread-eating campaign was launched across the country.

School lunches were gradually switched to bread. Bread, spaghetti, how to eat it, how to make it, etc. became popular, and in 30 years Japan went from eating rice to eating bread.

As was reported in this morning's newspaper, this story began in 1980. Even after 40 years, it is still being pursued to this day. It's an incredible span of time.

Changing eating habits takes a long time. It takes time for people to change their food choices and the foods they choose to eat.

Rice is currently a major product overseas. A large amount of privately produced rice is being imported into prefectures other than Hokkaido. Mitsuhikari rice is already being produced in 38 prefectures. Mitsui Chemicals Agro Co., Ltd. plans to increase sales of its own rice by 100 times over the next two to three years. Their goal is rice.

After the war, they forced the Japanese to give up rice and forced them to adopt a wheat culture. They were successful to a certain extent, but it still remains, so it seems that there are powerful forces at work who are trying to snatch it up for their own intellectual property.

In this way, the majors are forcing Japanese farmers to adopt their own methods. Once they gain control of rice, they will extend their control to beans and vegetables as well. I urge you to cherish and protect the crops that you have worked so hard to cultivate.

Thanks to the thoughtfulness of Mr. Kyosei Tai (Kami's secretary), Diet Building candy badges (apple flavor) and Diet Building candy (cider flavor) were distributed to everyone!!




Here, the discussion with the Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association concluded, and Chairman Takada guided us on a tour of the Kurosengoku soybean fields that stretch out in front of Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen.

While listening to an explanation from Director Takada, we observed the growth of the Kurosengoku soybeans. The Kurosengoku soybeans were still in the green, growing stage, but we tasted them raw.

Chairman Takada explained that Kurosengoku soybeans are not as toxic as regular soybeans (edamame), so they can be eaten raw during the edamame season.










After the tour, everyone went to lunch at the restaurant "Kazuma" inside Sunflower Park Hokuryu Onsen.

Article continues in the afternoon...

Other photos

・Photos (182 photos) of the Diet delegation's local meeting in Hokuryu Town (Hokkaido) are available here >>

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・Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association introduction page
・Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association Online Shop
・We spoke with Professor Takashi Sambuichi, Professor Emeritus of Takushoku University Hokkaido Junior College, about Kurosengoku soybean's new variety, "Ryukei No. 3."(May 14, 2018)

・Former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Masahiko Yamada and film director Masaki Haramura visit Hokuryu Town and film location for documentary film production on "Seed and Food Safety" and Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association(June 25, 2020)

・A group of Diet members from Hokuryu Town (Hokkaido) held a local discussion meeting on the amendment of the Seed and Seedlings Act [No.1] Kurosengoku Business Cooperative Association
・Local meeting of Diet members in Hokuryu Town (Hokkaido) regarding the amendment of the Seed and Seedlings Act [No. 2] Honoka Agricultural Cooperative
・A meeting with Tatsuya Uehi, a member of the Diet, in Hokuryu Town (Hokkaido) regarding self-logging forestry [No. 3]

◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi