This was published one month ago. I neglected to bring it up on the BBS when it was published, but I was reminded of something two days ago while on a trip through the California ricelands (a geographic location between Chico and Yuba City).
This article discusses Shinzo Abe's plan to foster the growth of Nihonbare rice to further and diversify Japan's rice-growing economy, turning an $8.5 Billion industry into a $60 Billion industry by 2020.
In 2013, rice grown for sake accounted for 2.9% of all rice grown. Therefore an exponential growth of its use will begin to displace the amount of rice grown for food.
Not long ago, I posted a thread on the BBS discussing artificially increasing the demand for rice-based foodstuff by purchasing in bulk quantities. I'm bringing that topic to light again due to this article right here.
Shinzo Abe is trying to get more people to drink sake at the expense of buying bulk rice, and that he's banking on it paying off if every sake-selling restaurant can market just one more bottle each night. In the article, this new strategy is listed as being due to a change in diet among the people.
Of course, that leaves a production gap for other global regions to fulfill. And I was thinking about this the other day as I was going through those ricelands. (And if you want more information you can find so
here.)
The California ricelands are a geopolitical hotbutton issue for this state. Urban development over the decades has vastly encroached on former wetlands used for rice production. Additionally, these areas are notable habitats for avian life.
My point in bringing this up is to discuss the implications of California picking up the slack where Japan is leaving off. Multiple possibilities abound with possible gains for both the US and Japan, as well as the risk of losses for each.
These are the points I wish to see discussed:
1) The possibility of artificially influencing the demand for both traditional rice and Nihonbare rice, and
2) Whether expanding California's current riceland territory at the expense of other crops in the region should be encouraged.
