Small-scale agriculture: A case study of Shikoku, Japan.

摘要

Growing concern about environmental and health impacts of our current industrialized modern food production and distribution system have made small-scale agriculture an attractive alternative for its responsiveness to the environment and its connection to people and places. This study delves into how small-scale agriculture is practiced in Japan, the opportunities for and challenges to small-scale agriculture, and implications this has on local food landscapes. For a variety of different reasons Japan, unlike the United States, has long relied on small-scale agriculture to feed their population. Recent times have found the country divided between incentivizing small farming operations or advancing agriculture through consolidation and mechanization. This case study of Shikoku, Japan seeks to better understand these opposing strategies for the future of agriculture and uncover the intricacies of small-scale agriculture.