Pioneering the Future of Food and Agriculture from Niigata: Over 150 Key Public and Private Sector Leaders Gather for Implementation-Focused Conference

The Local Startup Association (LSA), based in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, and led by Representative Director Junichi Saito, held 'ONE SUMMIT 2026 in Niigata' on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the Toki Messe Convention Center in Niigata City. The conference focused on 'co-creating' the future of the food, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries industries. More than 150 participants from across Japan, including startups, local governments, large corporations, financial institutions, researchers, and producers, gathered for the event. The opening session featured key speakers such as Mr. Amano from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism; Mr. Sakuma from Oisix ra daichi, who is promoting the Food Tech Town initiative in Niigata; Mr. Hirata from Namics, a major electronic chemical materials firm entering the agricultural sector; and Mr. Saito from Kirinzan Brewery. Through 18 thematic workshops, panel sessions, and networking opportunities, participants discussed 'food tech'—a key area in the government's growth strategy—and social implementation models based on regional resources. Niigata, a leading rice-producing region with a rich food culture and network of food processing industries, serves as a cornerstone of Japan's food and agriculture sector. Recognizing the importance of passing the baton to the next generation and shifting toward a sustainable industrial structure, the organizers chose Niigata to create and demonstrate next-generation food and agricultural models. Moving forward, the association plans to promote the specific project-based implementation of the ideas and collaborative seeds generated during the summit in partnership with participating companies, local governments, and financial institutions.