#Japan #Organic Farming #Tochigi #PROPELa #Tochigi City

PROPELa's Organic Produce Distribution Initiative in Tochigi City

Overview

The Tokyo-based company, PROPELa, has recently announced its commitment to the "Organic Produce Distribution System Construction Research" commissioned by the Tochigi City Organic Agriculture Promotion Council. This initiative marks a critical step towards enhancing the organic agricultural ecosystem within Tochigi City, with work expected to begin in August 2025 and conclude by March 2026.

Background

Rooted in the national strategy known as the "Green Food System Strategy," this endeavor aligns with Tochigi City's recent declaration of the "Organic Village" announced in May of 2025. This declaration is part of the city’s broader effort to integrate sustainability within agricultural practices while improving productivity. The objective is to create a streamlined system that effectively matches local demand—primarily from school lunch programs and dining establishments—with supply from local farmers.

Goals and Objectives

The goals for this research are comprehensive and aim to achieve several key outcomes:

• - Establish a matching framework between organic producers (farmers) and actual demand facilities (such as schools and restaurants).
• - Create a structured local distribution ecosystem to enhance the self-sufficiency rate of Tochigi City.
• - Support the execution of the Tochigi City Organic Agriculture Implementation Plan.

To accomplish these goals, PROPELa plans to conduct a variety of activities:

• - Interviews with producers, distributors, and consumers to gather firsthand insights.
• - Visualization and analysis of the supply-demand structure within the region.
• - Investigate and compare similar case studies for effective benchmarking.
• - Compile findings into a report that also includes policy recommendations.

PROPELa – A Brief Introduction

PROPELa is a startup dedicated to addressing social challenges through the design of time-space solutions, aiming for a sustainable future. Their mission emphasizes the real-time visualization of local resource demand and supply, supporting the implementation of a circular local economy. Through collaboration with municipalities and local businesses, PROPELa has made significant advances in designing and operating local markets, including a B2B model launched in 2023. They plan to introduce a B2B2C model in 2024.

In the recent past, PROPELa achieved notable success in improving the local procurement rate for school lunches in Minami Aso Village, increasing the usage rate of locally sourced vegetables from 14% to over 80%. This accomplishment highlights the effectiveness of their innovative approach and further validates their expertise in conducting thorough assessments.

In this research project, PROPELa intends to utilize these insights to ensure a precise evaluation. They are setting a concrete objective of improving local procurement rates in school lunches and intend to pursue practical implementations in partnership with Tochigi City.

Conclusion

As PROPELa embarks on this significant project, the implications of their findings could play a pivotal role in reshaping the agricultural landscape of Tochigi City, ultimately fostering a more sustainable and efficient food production and distribution system. By bridging the gap between producers and consumers, this initiative has the potential to set a benchmark for other regions looking to enhance their organic farming practices.

For more insights and updates, visit PROPELa’s official website: PROPELa Website