Publications

Report series on Trends in Regenerative Farming and Soil Carbon Sequestration now available!

Global interest in the role of regenerative agriculture and carbon farming continues to grow. There is deep interest in learning more about the potential of these approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture and mitigate climate change risks. And there is deep interest in learning how these areas will be an opportunity, or a challenge, for companies and industries involved in global sourcing, supply chains and investment in food and agriculture.

Internationally, various mechanisms are being developed to provide financial and policy incentives for change, including soil carbon sequestration through the introduction of regenerative farming methods such as no-tillage and cover crops, and carbon credit generation through nitrous oxide suppression through nitrogen fertilizer reduction. Improved MRV (measurement, reporting and verification) technologies are being developed and tested in the market.

As companies expand their international business operations, they will be required to understand and adapt to these changes. At the same time, these transformations in the global food and agriculture sector are being viewed as new business opportunities for companies who can provide products and services that support a transition to lower emission supply chains.

Meros has created a three-volume report that gives an overview of the trends and developments in this sector. These reports are available as off-the-shelf reports or can be customized to suit the needs of specific companies.

Please contact us to discuss more!

Volume 1: Trends in Regenerative Agriculture

What is Regenerative Agriculture?
Increased Usage of No-till Farming and Herbicide-resistant Seeds
Incentive Mechanisms for Regenerative Agriculture and Private Sector/Financial Institution Initiatives
Third-party Certification for Regenerative Agriculture
Future Outlook for Regenerative Agriculture

Volume 2: Trends in Carbon Farming and Soil Carbon Sequestration

What is Carbon Farming?
Potential for Soil Carbon Sequestration in Agricultural Land
Financial Incentives for Carbon Farming
Carbon Pricing for Agricultural/Natural Sources
Challenges and Future Outlook for Soil Carbon Sequestration

Volume 3: Private Sector and Government Initiatives in Carbon Farming (Focus on Europe and the United States)

Private Sector Initiatives in Soil Carbon Sequestration
- Certification Schemes for Agricultural Carbon Credits in Voluntary Carbon Markets
- Private Company Marketplaces: Startup Initiatives
- Private Company Marketplaces: Major Corporation Initiatives
Government Initiatives in Soil Carbon Sequestration
- U.S. Government Carbon Farming Initiatives and Subsidies
- EU Government Carbon Farming Initiatives and the Carbon Removal Certification Framework
- Australian Government’s ACCU Emissions Trading Scheme and Agricultural Carbon Credit Projects
Future Outlook

If you are interested in how these trends may be impact your company in particular or how regulatory and market trends in regenerative farming, carbon sequestration and sustainable supply chains may impact your business, please reach out. Meros creates customized analysis and research to help in your business decision-making.

inquiries@merosconsulting.com

29 Mar

2023 Guide on Sustainable Management for Food Companies released by MAFF and available now

Posted by Team Meros in News, Publications

For the past two years, Meros’ Chisa Ogura has been a member of the expert advisory panel for research commissioned by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) to support ESG investment in the Japanese food industry. The research itself was conducted by Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting and was supported by a panel of experts invited by MAFF to provide guidance, including Ms Ogura as an expert in the Japanese food and agriculture industry, major food manufacturers such as Kirin and Meiji, as well as specialists in areas of ESG investing, such as biodiversity.

In March 2023, MAFF released the results of this research – a practical Guide on Sustainable Management for Food Companies, aimed at small and medium-sized food companies in Japan, as they prepare to further address ESG issues. The report is now available here for downloading (in Japanese):

2023 Guide on Sustainable Management for Food Companies

https://www.maff.go.jp/j/shokusan/fund/esgitakuR4.html

The guide covers a range of critical topics, including ESG issues for food companies, sustainable management, governance issues, GHG reduction, human rights, food loss, plastic-free, animal welfare, and biodiversity. The guide is a very useful first introduction to the subject, as it provides a comprehensive overview of key points and background material on these topics.

For each of these environmental and social issues, the report outlines the goals to be achieved, specific measures to be taken, information disclosure methods, and other relevant information. It is expected that major publicly listed food manufacturers, which are required to disclose information on ESG issues, will need to work together with their existing suppliers, who are primarily small and medium-sized companies, to raise the level of the industry as a whole to address ESG and sustainability issues.

The expert advisory panel provided advice on the overall direction of the guide, how to choose priority topics and how to put ESG investment into the context of the Japanese food industry. As the Guide itself was developed, Ms Ogura and the panel advised on the key points that need to be emphasized, especially to small and medium-sized companies, to encourage innovation along the entire supply chain. They also gave recommendations on what may best motivate SMEs in the food industry to implement ESG initiatives and monitor results.

The guide is intended to be used directly by the management and staff of small and medium-sized food companies so that the entire food industry, both major manufacturers and smaller companies, can cooperate more easily by having a better mutual understanding of the challenges and expectations.

This research and the resulting guide is part of MAFF’s goal of increasing sustainable procurement and management throughout the food industry, as outlined in the Ministry’s Green Food System Strategy that was launched in 2021. The Green Food System Strategy aims to improve both productivity and sustainability through innovation throughout the entire food supply chain.

15 Apr

New! Revised Meros – USDA Food Export Guides to Japan Online Now

Posted by Team Meros in Publications

Meros once again teamed up with the US Embassy Japan’s Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) to develop a new revised version of well-received series of export guides originally developed in 2019. The series details the regulatory requirements for 24 specific products, from cheese to chocolate, seafood to spirits. While the aim of these guides is to support American SMEs who are interested in exporting food products to Japan, the detailed guides can be of interest to food exporters of all backgrounds.

Within the first month of their release in March 2022, the revised guides were downloaded over 1000 times.

The revised guides have added sections on new Japanese policy related to agricultural biotechnology as well as updated tariff schedules for each product to reflect changes that have come about since the US-Japan Trade Agreement came into effect on January 1, 2020. Other changes include updated product labeling regulations as well as some product-specific changes.

USDA Meros Agricultural Biotechnology Japan Import — *New sections include updates on Japan’s regulations on food and food additives derived from agricultural biotechnology.*

Exporting to Japan can seem daunting with numerous required forms and official resources not always available in English. In these guides, we take potential exporters step-by-step from pre-embarkation to import clearance and lay out the expected forms and preparations necessary at each stage.

For new food exporters to Japan, common challenges include differences in food additive standards which may mean a product that is allowed for food products in the home country may not always be allowed in Japan. Japan’s strict, low tolerance standards for agrochemical residues (MRLs) also trips up some potential exporters. These guides aim to point out some of these common pitfalls in advance, so exporters are better prepared. They are not meant as “do-it-yourself” guides but as a tool to help exporters better navigate the export process together with their Japanese importers and distributors.

We provide examples of required ingredients lists, manufacturing process charts as well as labeling for each type of product – but it is important for exporters to always keep in mind that requirements can change without notice – especially whenever sanitary or phytosanitary risks are involved. Ultimately, a successful export business to Japan requires ongoing vigilance for regulatory changes, as well as strong relationships with importers and partners in Japan.

Download the guides here.