Japenese here（日本語ページへ）

    Laboratory of Agricultural Marketing was newly established as a result of a major reorganization of the Faculty of Horticulture in 1983.  Ever since the main research topics have focused on the distribution and marketing aspects, as broadly defined, of agricultural products, such as marketing network/institutions, price formation, agricultural finance, and agricultural cooperatives.  More recently added research topics, as new faculty members joined, include: studies on the distribution of food products with the industrial organization approach and with the ‘food system’ perspective, and international rural economic development.
 

Faculty and Student Reasearch Interest

Industrial Organization Approach to Food System

    The ‘food system’ is a system encompassing agricultural production, food processing and marketing. Research has been conducted on the major differences observed in the industrial organization characteristics between the fresh food produce market and the processed food market; in the distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables, for example, major reorganizations in the wholesale market and development of marketing channels without going through wholesale market have taken place simultaneously.  In addition, the research focus also includes the analysis of industrial organization and firm behavior in processed food distribution, highlighting the recent changes in marketing strategies and distribution networks.  Above all, the research has revealed the major characteristics of the food processing industry in Japan.

Marketing Institutions of Agricultural Products

    The institutions involved in collection and marketing of agricultural produce are closely linked with agricultural production.  Research has been conducted to examine such institutions from organizational and functional points of view.  Empirical study has revealed that marketing of fruits and vegetables through agricultural cooperatives is done by community based marketing cooperatives and, as such, it possesses an aspect of community interest groups.

Wholesale Markets in Fruits and Vegetables

    In Japan, fruits and vegetables have been channeled mainly through wholesale markets.  However, recent developments in the retail markets, including the emergence of large-scale retailers, had major impacts on the organizations of wholesale markets.  Research has been conducted on the intermediate traders operating in the Central Wholesale Market.  The study reveals the growing importance of the procurement function performed by these traders, based on their highly specialized skills and knowledge, on behalf of large-scale retailers.

Rural Development and Agricultural Marketing in Developing Countries

    Some of more recent research by faculty and students goes beyond agricultural marketing issues and reflects increasing international perspectives, including collaboration with international organizations such as the World Bank.  Research has been conducted on rural development, poverty and ‘gender and development’ issues in developing country contexts; it includes an empirical study on socio-economic class mobility in rural Philippines, a survey of intra-household resource allocation issues in developing countries, poverty analysis of female headed households in Panama, impact analysis of education projects targeted to female students in Bangladesh, and a study on rural development and agricultural marketing in China.

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