Japanese governing bodies are stepping up efforts to make sure the profits from high-end fruits developed by its farmers end up in the right pockets.
The agriculture ministry will select a private organization in fiscal 2020 to protect the intellectual property rights of new varieties of fruits and plants developed in Japan, a move that is hoped to prevent their unauthorized cultivation overseas, particularly in Asia.
Japanese farmers have been missing out on export opportunities by failing to register their products overseas. Shine Muscat, a high-end grape developed in Japan, has reportedly been grown in China and South Korea then sold in Thailand and Hong Kong -- not as a Japanese original but as a Chinese or South Korean product, according to Japan's agriculture ministry.
It is explained how demand for high-end fruits and vegetables from Japan is especially strong in Southeast Asia. Partnering with farms in Australia and other countries in the Southern Hemisphere to grow IP-protected produce will not only ensure a year-round supply to satisfy demand, but also keep sales moving in Japan's off-season, providing the Japanese developers with their share of the profits.
