Japanese potato farmers are campaigning against wider imports of fresh potatoes from the United States. About 120 farmers and citizens held a protest at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on 24 September, the agricultural cooperative newspaper JAcom reported.

A second gathering took place inside the National Diet on 25 September. It was organised by the National Farmers’ Movement Alliance (Nouminren), the Japan Agricultural News reported.

What is at stake

The United States asked Japan in 2020 to fully open its market to US fresh potatoes. Plant health talks between the two countries have now entered their final stage, according to JAcom.

At present, Japan allows US fresh potatoes only for potato chip processing. The imports are kept under strict control.

Speakers at the protest came from Hokkaido, Nagasaki and Kanagawa. They included a grower from Koshimizu in Hokkaido and a cooperative leader from Minami-Shimabara in Nagasaki. Their message was: do not take away the motivation of young farmers.

Pest and rotation concerns

The farmers warned that pests and diseases could enter with imports. Potato cyst nematode already causes problems for Japanese growers, they said. They also said that cheaper imports could break crop rotation systems in Hokkaido. Potatoes are a key crop in rotations with wheat, sugar beet and beans there.

The Diet gathering also raised concerns about post-harvest pesticides and genetically modified potatoes, according to the Japan Agricultural News.

Hokkaido is the main potato region of Japan. Its growers are now in the middle of the harvest.

Why it matters

A decision by Japan would open one of the largest remaining protected fresh potato markets in Asia. US exporters would gain access for table and processing potatoes beyond chips. Japanese growers fear price pressure and new pest risks. The final plant health conditions will decide how much trade actually follows. Processors in Japan could gain more raw material options, while growers want strict quarantine rules. The outcome will also be watched by other exporters to Asia.

Prevention & control · Editorial note

Potato cyst nematode (Globodera rostochiensis): what growers can do

  • Prevention: use certified, nematode-free seed, grow resistant varieties and keep long rotations without potatoes.
  • Monitoring: sample soil before planting and follow official survey results.
  • Chemical protection in Japan: no effective chemical control; prevention only.
  • Resistance management: clean soil from machinery between fields and alternate resistant varieties, because resistance genes do not cover every nematode population.

This note is provided by the potatoes.news editorial team for information only. It is not a recommendation of any company and is not mandatory. Use only plant protection products authorised in your country and follow the label. Product names and registrations differ between countries; consult a local agronomist.

Photo: Potato fields and a windbreak in Koshimizu, Hokkaido, Japan (illustrative). Opqr / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0