Fukuoka Prefecture will subsidize up to two-thirds of costs for labor-saving farming equipment to counter declining production of Amaou strawberries, Japan’s top-priced variety for 20 years. Aging farmers and reduced cultivation have led to an 18% drop in shipments over five years. The ¥150 million program aims to support efficient methods like elevated growing systems.
Legal protections for the variety expired in January, raising concerns over unauthorized cultivation outside the prefecture. Officials are now relying on trademarks and seedling controls to protect the brand amid rising competition from other regions. Source: Fukuoka Prefecture
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