Japan’s flower and plant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic

Japan’s flower and plant industry has dramatically declined and stagnated in recent decades.
This decline is due to several factors, including Japan’s long stagnation and population decrease, the declining change in young consumers’ preference for flowers on the demand side, agriculture’s low profitability, aging farmers, and a few of innovation of production and distribution system on the supply side.
Thus, strategies are needed to revitalize and develop Japan’s consumption and production of flowers and plants.
In 2014, the Flowers and Plants Promotion Act was approved.
However, at the beginning of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused worldwide economic depression and significantly impacted Japan’s flower and plant industry and economy.
It changed the Japanese lifestyle and the economy’s production and distribution systems.
This study focuses on Japan’s flower and plant industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Using statistical observations and survey data collection, we investigate consumption, production, and international trade.
We observe changes in consumer behavior during the pandemic, such as stay-at-home consumption and internet shopping, and changes in quantity and quality of consumption, production, and trade, such as the gardening boom and internet auction.
We discuss measures for the corona disease and policy strategies for redevelopment during and after the pandemic.

IV Asian Horticultural Congress – AHC2023

Y. Niisato

floriculture, flower consumption, flower production, policy strategy

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2024.1404.76