I was surfing on YouTube today and found an interesting video from the Japanese Government on the issue of food security and the global chain.
First off, I was surprised to see that Japan imports 64% of its foods from countries such as New Zealand, the United States and Canada. Secondly, this video heavily supports the growing issue with competition between consumable food and food as a fuel source. This problem derived from this trend can be felt throughout the world.
Putting that aside, the root of this message seems to be to buy local and return to a more traditional Japanese diet. This would allow an individual to remain healthy with a well-rounded diet and help the Japanese economy. This is evident when the cartoon characters changed to a more westernized meal and gain weight. Then in the grocery store they loose their weight when they shop for Japanese goods.
In any case, any individual or economy can be enhanced with a bit of local flavour through a touch of consumer ethnocentrism...just don’t go overboard, we do live in a diverse and global economy.
Anime Government Messages
Japenese Cartoon on Global Food Supply
Trend Themes
1. Food Security - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop sustainable and locally sourced food supply chains to reduce dependence on imports.
2. Consumer Ethnocentrism - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create marketing strategies that promote local products and cater to consumer preferences for traditional, culturally-relevant goods.
3. Global Food Competition - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore alternative food sources and fuel options to alleviate the strain on consumable food resources.
Industry Implications
1. Agriculture - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Implement advanced farming techniques and technology to increase local food production and reduce reliance on imports.
2. Food Distribution - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop efficient and sustainable distribution networks that prioritize local food suppliers and minimize environmental impact.
3. Marketing and Advertising - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create targeted campaigns that promote the benefits of locally sourced food and appeal to consumers' cultural preferences.