Osaka Agricultural Top Runner Development Program Launches First Cohort Recruitment to Cultivate Farmers Targeting Over ¥30 Million in Sales

AgriConnect Co., Ltd., a management consulting firm specializing in food and agriculture (Head Office: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President & CEO: Iori Kumamoto), has been entrusted by Osaka Prefecture with the operational management of the 'Osaka Agricultural Top Runner Development Course' and is now launching recruitment for the first cohort of the Reiwa 8 academic year.

Osaka Agricultural Top Runner Development Course Official Website

This course is a practical program designed for agricultural entrepreneurs within Osaka Prefecture, aiming to cultivate core operators targeting annual sales of over ¥30 million. It provides a structured opportunity for farmers with current annual sales of approximately ¥7 million or more who are seeking further business growth to systematically learn about management philosophy, marketing, finance, human resources and organizational development, agricultural DX, and business design for experiential agriculture.

The first session will be held on Friday, August 28, Reiwa 8, as a free open seminar, making it accessible for farmers considering enrollment.

About the Osaka Agricultural Top Runner Development Course

The 'Osaka Agricultural Top Runner Development Course' is a practical management program for agricultural operators in Osaka Prefecture who aim to grow their businesses. Participants will reassess their strengths and challenges and work on developing business plans targeting annual sales of over ¥30 million.

Osaka's agriculture benefits from its proximity to major consumer markets, allowing easy access to diverse sales channels such as restaurants, retail stores, direct sales outlets, farmers' markets, and consumers—advantages characteristic of urban-adjacent farming. However, with limited farmland and labor resources, expanding operations requires more than just increasing production scale. It demands refinement in product value, sales methods, customer engagement, management practices, and human resource utilization know-how.

This course targets farmers who already have a certain level of sales performance and face challenges in market expansion, employment, talent development, equipment investment, and new business development. The program aims to enhance not only their 'production capability' but also their 'marketing capability' and 'management capability'.

Beyond acquiring knowledge through lectures, a key feature is the opportunity for participants to organize their current situation, strengths, challenges, and goals, and work on creating actionable plans that can be implemented after the course. Feedback from instructors and consultants supports this process. AgriConnect will leverage its extensive expertise in agricultural management support to cultivate core contributors who will sustain regional agriculture in Osaka.

Features of the Course

1. Focused on Farmers Targeting Annual Sales of Over ¥30 Million

This course is not an introductory program for new farmers but targets those who already have a certain level of sales performance and aim to further grow their operations.

Farmers with current annual sales of approximately ¥7 million or more will learn the management perspectives necessary to achieve annual sales of over ¥30 million within five years.

2. Dual-Course System Leveraging Osaka's Urban-Adjacent Characteristics

The course consists of two tracks: the 'Business Development Track' (10 sessions total), aimed at overall business growth, and the 'Experiential Agriculture Practicum Track' (7 sessions total), which combines experiences, dining, and retail.

The program supports business development that leverages Osaka's unique advantages as a major consumer market—such as diverse sales channels, customer touchpoints, and experiential value—rather than mere scale expansion.

3. Beyond Lectures: Accompanying Participants in Creating Business Plans and Practical Strategies

Participants will organize their current situation, strengths, challenges, and goals, and work on creating concrete plans.

The Business Development Track aims to create a 'Business Strengthening Plan,' while the Experiential Agriculture Practicum Track aims to create an 'Experiential Agriculture Implementation Plan.' Through feedback from instructors and consultants, participants will be supported in creating plans that lead to practical implementation after the course.

4. Learn Directly from Advanced Agricultural Entrepreneurs and Experts

The course features diverse instructors, including practicing agricultural entrepreneurs, business support specialists, and experts in DX and data utilization.

A key feature is gaining concrete, actionable insights from real-world case studies of operators who have achieved success on the ground, which participants can apply to their own businesses.

Free Open Seminar on August 28 (Fri)

The first session will be held as a free open seminar, designed to be easily accessible for farmers within the prefecture.

The theme is 'Establishing Management Philosophy and Business Principles to Pioneer the Next Generation.' Mr. Kazuhiro Furuyama, former Head of the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management, will be a special guest lecturer, sharing insights on the roles and responsibilities expected of business leaders and the concept of management philosophy and principles.

Additionally, Iori Kumamoto, President & CEO of AgriConnect Co., Ltd., will deliver a lecture on how to connect mission and vision to practical agricultural management and growth planning.

This seminar aims to help participants develop a managerial decision-making framework, learn how to formulate a business vision targeting ¥30 million in sales, and build connections among agricultural entrepreneurs in Osaka Prefecture who are striving for business growth.

Outline of the Free Open Seminar

Date and Time: Friday, August 28, Reiwa 8, 13:00–17:00 Venue: 3rd Floor Hall, JA Osaka Center Building Participation Fee: Free Capacity: 50 participants (first-come, first-served) Target Audience: Agricultural entrepreneurs in Osaka Prefecture aiming for business expansion Content: Management philosophy and principles, business vision, course overview, etc. Special Guest Lecturer: Mr. Kazuhiro Furuyama, Former Head, Matsushita Institute of Government and Management Registration Method: Advance online application

About AgriConnect Co., Ltd.

AgriConnect Co., Ltd. is a 'management consulting firm specializing in food and agriculture' with one of the top track records in Japan. The company provides consulting services on agribusiness for governments, local authorities, corporations, and agricultural corporations in Japan and overseas.

Company Name: AgriConnect Co., Ltd. Representative: President & CEO Iori Kumamoto Head Office: Moss Fragrance Garden Building, 4F, 1-3-8 Shibakoen, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0011 Established: March 2013 Website: https://agri-connect.co.jp Business Activities: Agricultural business consulting, farm management consulting, agricultural entrepreneur development programs, overseas farm development consulting, etc.