Symposium on Agricultural Heritage: Building Collaborations for the Future

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) is set to hold a symposium on November 7, themed "Promoting Collaboration Between Agricultural Heritage Areas and Private Enterprises." This event aims to share the significance and value of agricultural heritage regions and their collaborations with private sectors. All businesses are encouraged to participate in the networking sessions planned for the day.

1. Overview

Agricultural heritage regions represent areas where sustainable practices in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries have been handed down through generations. Amid growing efforts toward sustainable societies, the value of agricultural heritage is gaining renewed attention. To address the issues facing these areas and ensure their legacy for future generations, MAFF plans to implement the "Official Supporter System for Agricultural Heritage" to facilitate collaboration between these regions and companies starting from fiscal year 2028. This symposium, organized by Plando Japan Co., will serve to stimulate interest in partnerships between agricultural heritage sites and private enterprises.

2. Details of the Event

Date and Time: November 7, 2025 (Friday) from 1:00 PM to 5:40 PM
Venue: Marunouchi Building Hall & Foyer, 7th Floor, Marunouchi Building, 2-4-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Note: The networking session between regions and businesses will occur from 4:40 PM to 5:40 PM.
This event will be a hybrid format that accommodates both onsite and online participation, although the networking session will be onsite only.

3. Program Overview

- Keynote Speech: "Revitalizing Communities Through Agricultural Heritage" by Nobuyuki Yagi, Professor at the Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo and Chair of the World Agricultural Heritage Council.
- Case Studies of Regional and Corporate Collaboration:

- Noto Region in Ishikawa × Asahi Beer Co., Ltd.
- Lake Biwa Region in Shiga × Seikatsu Club Cooperative Shiga

- Promotional Activities for Agricultural Heritage Regions
- Company Promotions
- Panel Discussion: "Significance and Future Possibilities of Corporate Activities in Agricultural Heritage Regions"

Facilitator: Ayumi Kotani, Agricultural Journalist and Freelance Announcer
Panelists:
- Nobuyuki Yagi
- Junya Ishikawa, President of Dream Design Inc.
- Kazuyoshi Tsujimoto, Senior Manager at Kobe Shimbun
- Masaya Suzuki, Head of Product Marketing at Impact Circle, Inc.
- Masashi Ito, Manager at the Gifu Prefectural Agriculture Department

- Networking Session

4. How to Register

Participation Fee: Free
Registration Method: To participate, whether onsite or online, please fill out the application form at: Registration Form
Registration Deadlines:

- For onsite participation with corporate PR (1st deadline): October 20, 2025, by 6:00 PM
- For onsite participation: October 31, 2025, by 6:00 PM
- For online participation: November 5, 2025, by 6:00 PM

Due to limited capacity, registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Notifications will be sent via email if you aren’t selected.

Contact for Event Organization:
Plando Japan Co. (Attention: Agricultural Heritage)
Phone: 03-5470-4401
E-mail: nogyoisan★nta.co.jp (replace ★ with @ when sending)
Capacity: 120 onsite participants, 300 online participants.

5. For Media Representatives

If you wish to cover the event, please email the contact listed in the registration method instead of using the public form. You’ll need to provide two business cards upon arrival. During the event, please follow the instructions of the onsite personnel, and take photos only from designated areas.