Japan's overall food self-sufficiency ratio has been steadily declining on a calorie supply basis, reaching 40% in 1999. In grains, the nation's self-sufficiency ranks 28th among the 29 OECD countries. A key factor behind the declining self-sufficiency trend, according to a report released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, is the diversification of eating habits here in Japan, which has resulted in increased consumption of animal products, fats and oils. All of these are largely dependent on imported feed grain and oil seeds due to the limited availability of per capita agricultural land in Japan. Reduced consumption of rice, a full-sufficiency item, is also contributing to the ever-declining food self-efficiency ratio.

In July 1997, the Japan government enacted the Basic Law on Food, Agriculture and Rural Areas. The law establishes a stable food supply as a key objective and, to achieve this, stipulates that efforts first be made to increase domestic food production, then to secure the availability of supplemental imports and stockpile them as may be appropriate.