Mexico strengthens scientific and technological cooperation to promote innovative and sustainable agriculture in the country and keeps agri-food trade open, under strict sanitary protocols that are an international benchmark, said the Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development, Victor Villalobos Arámbula.
While participating in the workshop on the release of Japanese polished rice imports into Mexico, he said that an example of this trade openness is that, during the most complex stage in the global animal health and sanitation issue, the government of Japan did not cancel Mexican pork imports.
He pointed out that now Mexico will begin to import Japanese polished rice, based on scientific and technical grounds and the sanitary protocols of the National Service of Agri-Food Health, Safety and Quality (Senasica), for the benefit of Mexican consumers.
With the participation of officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan (MAFF) and importers and retailers of agri-food products from that country, Villalobos Arámbula said that this process puts "a grain of rice" to the bilateral relationship, since the Japanese grain is internationally recognized for its quality, flavor and nutrients.
He also highlighted the technological cooperation in the agricultural sector of both countries and the exchange of students and professionals from universities and research centers in Mexico and Japan.
MAFF representatives highlighted the decision to lift the ban on Japanese rice imports, which maintains high expectations for the commercialization of this product that has identified Japan since ancient times.
They mentioned that Japan is one of the main destinations for Mexican agri-food products and, with this decision, bilateral agricultural trade will increase, where 800 Mexican restaurants operate in the Asian country and whose gastronomic cultures are recognized worldwide.
On March 16, Senasica's plant health protocol certification was complied with, which determined that polished rice from Japan is free of brown flour weevil, with characteristics of short grain variety, rounder and milling practices for its polishing that maintains its nutrients, they pointed out.
On behalf of the Japan External Trade Promotion Agency (JETRO), Neysa Tallaneli Criollo Padilla expressed that her institution carries out meetings between Mexican and Japanese companies to promote investment, innovation and agri-food commercialization and polished rice is emblematic in her country, with exports to Hong Kong, Singapore, France and the United States, mainly.
The event included a sample and tasting of Japanese foods such as rice, wagyu beef, fish, seafood, ramen, vegan products, gin and sake liquor from Mexican importers and Japanese traders.
In 2022, Mexico's agri-food and fisheries trade balance with Japan recorded a surplus of 1.278 billion dollars. Exports were 1.299 billion dollars and imports were 21 million dollars.
Mexico's main export products to Japan in the 2018-2022 period were: pork, avocado, beef, tuna, bananas, zucchini, tequila, orange juice, shrimp and canned citrus.
Imports during the reporting period were food preparations, sauces, green tea, canned fish, soups, fermented beverage mix, fish fillets, whiskey and vegetable seeds.