This report, The Erosion of Japan’s Traditional Seed Sector Through Misguided Policy, provides an analysis and impact assessment of Japanese seed policies since the mid-20th century. It argues that Japan’s increasing reliance on strict intellectual property regimes — combined with the weakening of public seed institutions and the promotion of biotechnology-driven breeding — has undermined traditional seed systems, farmers’ rights, and long-term seed sovereignty.
The report reveals a major contradiction in Japan’s intellectual property strategy. Despite its exceptionally strict PVP regime, the number of new grants of plant variety rights has sharply declined. This trend contradict the assumption, promoted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), that stronger intellectual property protection automatically stimulates innovation. Instead, excessive restrictions have coincided with declining breeding capacity, loss of human resources, and reduced diversity of new varieties.
The report concludes that Japan’s current trajectory risks longterm loss of breeding capacity, agrobiodiversity, and democratic control over seeds. It calls for a rebalancing of breeders’ rights and farmers’ rights, renewed support for the public seed sector, greater transparency and public participation in seed policy decisions, and the establishment of regional food and seed councils.