[Proposal] 'Fruitful Peace Diplomacy' - Learning from the 'Reiwa Rice Riots' toward a New Security
Has the 'Reiwa Rice Riots' truly come to an end?
Admittedly, the massive release of government-stockpiled rice seems to be resolving the extreme shortages.
Nevertheless, the rice section at my local supermarket still displays a notice stating that 'arrival of stockpiled rice is undecided,' and the shelves remain stocked with expensive brand-name rice in the 4,000 yen per 5kg range and American-grown rice.
In my article titled 'Kase Senryu: Stockpiled Rice' I pointed out that 'affordable rice is achieved not through the dumping of stockpiled rice like this, but through sustainable agricultural policy and robust price control measures.'
This recent rice riot clearly illustrates just how fragile Japan's food security is.
Furthermore, I believe it demonstrates the reality that the world's food and agriculture are deeply interconnected, rather than being merely a matter of supply and demand within a single nation.
The world is currently facing a quadruple crisis of food, climate, war, and inequality.
In Gaza, children and mothers wander through ruined streets in search of meager food aid, while Israeli soldiers target them.
Does such a tragic reality not symbolize this very quadruple crisis?
I believe the time has come for the world to make agriculture and food, rather than weapons, the means for peace.
Therefore, I would like to propose 'Fruitful Peace Diplomacy' as a new form of security.
It is a new diplomatic policy that builds trust and cooperation between nations through the sharing of agriculture, food, water, seeds, and ecosystems, achieving sustainable peace without relying on military force.
This vision leverages Japan's cultivated agricultural technology, disaster response capabilities, and track record of regional cooperation to paint a peaceful future connected to the international community through 'agriculture.'
Japan is a country that possesses environmentally harmonious paddy farming methods, has established biodiversity-friendly farming (Note 1) and rice stockpiling systems, and is aiming for smart agriculture (Note 2) that utilizes cutting-edge technology.
'Fruitful Peace Diplomacy' is an 'international contribution for peace' that only Japan, with its combination of such advanced agriculture and a world-class peace constitution, can achieve.
To realize this, I specifically propose the following five items.
1. Construction of an Asian Agricultural Security Network
Conclude mutual cooperation agreements for food stockpiling and support with neighboring countries such as Japan, ASEAN, South Korea, and China.
2. Joint Development and Conservation of Water, Irrigation, and Seeds, and Technical Cooperation
Promote the joint development and conservation of water resources, irrigation technology, and disaster-resistant seeds, which are essential for sustainable agriculture under climate change, and provide necessary technical cooperation to one another.
3. Strengthening Cooperation with the United Nations
Strengthen cooperation with the UN's FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) and WFP (World Food Programme), and utilize Japan's rice reserves and agricultural resources for international food aid.
4. Promotion of international exchange through agriculture at the municipal and citizen levels
In addition to intergovernmental international cooperation, promote international exchange regarding food and agriculture at the citizen level, including municipalities and NPOs.
To this end, for example, each municipality can leverage its local specialties and agricultural technologies to form a 'Fruitful Peace Diplomacy Youth Corps' and dispatch them to sister cities and rural areas around the world to promote technical support and citizen exchange.
5. Sharing the vision of agriculture as a global public good
Agriculture is not only about securing food, but also serves as an important means to preserve the global environment and address climate change by promoting agriculture in harmony with the environment.
Furthermore, agriculture is the foundation that supports the cultures of various countries through food culture, and it is also a global public good that fosters the diversity of nature and culture.
Sharing this vision of protecting food and agriculture across the entire globe with other countries will serve as a guidepost for realizing security that does not rely on military power and for overcoming the quadruple crisis of food, climate, war, and inequality.
Conclusion
This 'Fruitful Peace Diplomacy' proposes a new form of peace diplomacy through which Japan can contribute to the world by transforming future agriculture into sustainable agriculture that connects the Earth and life.
What the world needs now is not intimidation through military force, but a path toward 'peace supported by food,' is it not?
Together with all those who agree with this vision, I sincerely hope that the circle of solidarity through 'agriculture' will spread from Japan to the rest of the world.
Thank you very much.
*This concept was compiled based on my ideas while utilizing generative AI.
(Note 1)
(Note 2)
(Reference)
Click here for the English translation by ChatGPT.