Abstract
People in rural areas often grow foods in their home gardens and share them through food-sharing networks. Besides the obvious economic benefits, such shared food via non-market transactions enriches the inhabitants’ lives by strengthening their social relationships and nutritional quality. These shadow benefits of non-market food are qualitatively recognized, but have not been fully integrated into formal accounting systems. Thus, the present study quantifies the shadow benefits of food-sharing networks by considering the non-market food distribution on Hachijo Island, Japan. Based on interviews and questionnaire surveys, we graphically visualized the structure of the food-sharing networks and the seasonality of the shared-food species. The study revealed the proportions of foods acquired through self-production, sharing networks and purchases by systematic food category, and quantified the monetary and nutritional values of the non-market foods. The island residents shared various seasonal foods within and beyond the island, and the non-market food was beneficial to their health. More than 20% of the islanders’ annual consumption of potatoes, vegetables, seafood, and fruits were obtained through the food-sharing networks. Non-market food largely saved the household expenditure and provided a wide variety of nutrients. As future perspectives of food-sharing networks, we suggest balancing market-based and non-market food provisions, promoting local production for local consumption, and designing local food resilience in disaster events.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Befu H (1968) Gift giving in a modernizing Japan. Monum Nippon 23(3/4):445–456. https://doi.org/10.2307/2383499
Blache PVL (1970) Principes de géographie humaine. Translated by Iizuka K, Iwanami Bunko, Tokyo
Boafo YA, Saito O, Jasaw GS, Otsuki K, Takeuchi K (2016) Provisioning ecosystem services-sharing as a coping and adaptation strategy among rural communities in Ghana’s semi-arid ecosystem. Ecosyst Serv 19:92–102. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2016.05.002
Cantarero L, Espeitx E, Lacruz MG, Martin P (2013) Human food preferences and cultural identity: the case of Aragón (Spain). Int J Psychol 48(5):881–890. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207594.2012.692792
Cleveland DA, Phares N, Nightingale KD, Weatherby RL, Radis W, Ballard J, Campagna M, Kurtz D, Livingston K, Riechers G, Wilkins K (2017) The potential for urban household vegetable gardens to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Landsc Urban Plan 157:365–374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2016.07.008
Dansero E, Bonavero P, Pettenati G, Toldo A (2017) Toward a local food agenda in turin: mapping practices and processes through resilience. In: Roggema R (ed) Agriculture in an urbanizing society volume two: proceedings of the sixth AESOP conference on sustainable food planning, Cambridge Scholars Publishing, Newcastle upon Tyne, pp. 1047–1069
Davies G, Whelan S, Foley A, Walsh M (2010) Gifts and Gifting. IJMR 12:413–434. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2370.2009.00271.x
Diaz S, Pascual U, Stenseke M, Martin-Lopez B, Watson RTW, Molnar Z, Hill R, Chan KMA, Baste IAB, Brauman KAB, Polasky S, Church A, Lonsdale M, Larigauderie A, Leadley PW, Oudenhoven APEV., Plaat FVD, Schroter M, Lavorel S, Aumeeruddy-Thomas Y, Bukvareva E, Davies K, Demissew S, Erpul G, Failler P, Guerra CA, Hewitt CL, Keune H, Lindley S, Shirayama Y (2018) Assessing nature’s contributions to people: Recognizing culture, and diverse sources of knowledge, can improve assessments. Science 359(6373):270–272. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aap8826
Enomoto T (2008) Traditional foods and bright and healthy life of elderly people in Kaga region (In Japanese) Vitamins 82(8):466–468. https://doi.org/10.20632/vso.82.8_466
Foods Link (2017) Syokuzaihyakka (In Japanese). http://foodslink.jp/syokuzaihyakka/index.htm
Galhena DH, Freed R, Maredia KM (2013) Home gardens: a promising approach to enhance household food security and wellbeing. Agric Food Secur. https://doi.org/10.1186/2048-7010-2-8
Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) (2017) Appendix 3 Area of islands (In Japanese). http://www.gsi.go.jp/KOKUJYOHO/MENCHO/201710/f3_shima.pdf
Girard AW, Self JL, McAuliffe C, Oludet O (2012) The effects of household food production strategies on the health and nutrition outcomes of women and young children: a systematic review. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 26(Suppl. 1):205–222. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3016.2012.01282.x
Hachijo Island Department of Financial Planning (2017) Hachijo 2016 Appendix (In Japanese). http://www.town.hachijo.tokyo.jp/toukei-siryou/pdf/hachijo2016d.pdf
Hachijo Town (2016) Hachijo Town Population plan (In Japanese). http://www.town.hachijo.tokyo.jp/kakuka/kikaku_zaisei/pdf/H2803is.pdf
Hachijo Town (2017) Overview (In Japanese). http://www.town.hachijo.tokyo.jp/gaiyo/gaiyou.html
Hara Y, Tsuchiya K, Matsuda H, Yamamoto Y, Sampei Y (2013) Quantitative assessment of the Japanese “local production for local consumption” movement: a case study of growth of vegetables in the Osaka city region. Sustain Sci 8:515–527. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-012-0198-9
Ichikawa K (1989) A note on gift culture of the Japanese (In Japanese). Bull Living Sci 11:21–28
Japan Meteorological Agency (2017) Technical terms of time (In Japanese). http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/kishou/know/yougo_hp/toki.html
Jehlicka P, Danek P (2017) Rendering the actually existing sharing economy visible_home grown food and the pleasure of sharing. Sociologia Ruralis 57(3):274–296. https://doi.org/10.1111/soru.12160
Kamiyama C, Nakazawa N, Saito O (2014) Non-market food provisioning services through self-production and social networks in Japan: comparison between Noto peninsula and other regions (In Japanese with English abstract). J Environ Syst Res 42:II-361–II-369. https://doi.org/10.2208/jscejer.70.II_361
Kamiyama C, Hashimoto S, Kohsaka R, Saito O (2016) Non-market food provisioning services via homegardens and communal sharing in satoyama socio-ecological production landscapes on Japan’s Noto peninsula. Ecosyst Serv 17:185–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2016.01.002
Lachat C, Raneri JE, Smith KW, Kolsteren P, Damme PV, Verzelen K, Penafiel D, Vanhove W, Kennedy G, Hunter D, Odhiambo FO, Ntandou-Bouzitou G, Baets BD, Ratnasekera D, Ky HT, Remans R, Termote C (2018) Dietary species richness as a measure of food biodiversity and nutritional quality of diets. PNAS 115(1):127–132. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1709194115
Michelinia L, Principato L, Iasevoli G (2018) Understanding food sharing models to tackle sustainability challenges. Ecol Econ 145:205–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2017.09.009
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) (2008) e-healthnet (In Japanese). https://www.e-healthnet.mhlw.go.jp/
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) (2014) Overview of dietary reference intakes for Japanese (2015). http://www.mhlw.go.jp/file/06-Seisakujouhou-10900000-Kenkoukyoku/Overview.pdf
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) (2016) National Health and Nutrition Survey (In Japanese). http://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/itiran/gaiyo/k-eisei.html
Morton LW, Bitto EA, Oakland MJ, Sand M (2008) Accessing food resources: rural and urban patterns of giving and getting food. Agric Hum Values 25:107–119. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10460-007-9095-8
Nakazawa N, Kamiyama C, Saito O, Okuro T, Takeuchi K (2014) Harvesting edible wild mushrooms and plants in noto peninsula and their ecosystem services (In Japanese with English abstract). J Environ Syst Res 42:II-141–II-150. https://doi.org/10.2208/jscejer.70.II_141
NANKAI TIMES (2014) Research report of a sustainable island model (1) Quantification of sharing activity in the island (In Japanese)
Plieninger T, Kohsaka R, Bieling C, Hashimoto S, Kamiyama C, Kizos T, Penker M, Kieninger P, Shaw BJ, Sioen GB, Yoshida Y, Saito O (2017) Fostering biocultural diversity in landscapes through place-based food networks: a “solution scan” of European and Japanese models. Sustain Sci 13(1):219–233. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-017-0455-z
Quandt SA, Arcury TA, Bell RA, McDonald J, Vitolins MZ (2001) The social and nutritional meaning of food sharing among older rural adults. J Aging Stud 15:145–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0890-4065(00)00023-2
Saito O, Havas J, Shirai K, Kurisu K, Aramaki T, Hanaki K (2015) Non-market food provisioning services in hachijo Island, Japan and their implications toward building a resilient island (In Japanese with English abstract). J Environ Syst Res 43:II_349–II_357. https://doi.org/10.2208/jscejer.71.II_349
Saito O, Kamiyama C, Hashimoto S (2018) Non-market food provision and sharing in Japan’s socio-ecological production landscapes. Sustainability 10(1):213. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10010213
Schlosberg D, Coles R (2015) The new environmentalism of everyday life: sustainability, material flows and movements. Contemp Political Theory 15:160–181. https://doi.org/10.1057/cpt.2015.34
Smith J, Jehlicka P (2013) Quiet sustainability: fertile lessons from Europe’s productive gardeners. J Rural Stud 32:148–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2013.05.002
Suzuki T (1988) Gift and social relation. Kantoh Sociol Soc 1988(1):23–34. https://doi.org/10.5690/kantoh.1988.23
Talukder A, Haselow NJ, Osei AK, Villate E, Reario D, Kroeun H, SokHoing L, Uddin A, Dhunge S, Quinn V (2010) Homestead food production model contributes to improved household food security and nutrition status of young children and women in poor populations: lessons learned from scaling-up programs in Asia (Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal and Philippines). Field Actions Sci Rep Special Issue 1:1–9
Tomita H, Mizutani R (2012) The effect on environment caused by the change of the shipment areas in the mie district wholesale market (In Japanese). Suzuka Int Univ J Campana 19:117–126
Tsuda T, Imoto R, Kinoshita S, Ohya C (2005) A dietary education plan for sustainable society (I) analysis of life cycle energy for an ordinary menu. J Home Econ Jpn 56(8):541–551. https://doi.org/10.11428/jhej1987.56.541
United Nations University (2013) Satoyama and Satoumi of Ishikawa. http://i.unu.edu/media/ias.unu.edu-en/page/7973/Satoyama_and_Satoumi_of_Ishikawa.pdf
Yamasaki Y (1976) Foods in Hachijo Island (In Japanese). Sci Cookery 9(1):38–41
Yasainavi (2017) Home (In Japanese). http://www.yasainavi.com/
Zenrin Geo Intelligence (ZGI) (2016) Consumption and expenditure estimation data. On sale via http://www.zgi.co.jp/database/statistics/shouhi_shishutu.html
Zoll F, Specht K, Opitz I, Siebert R, Piorr A, Zasada I (2017) Individual choice or collective action? Exploring consumer motives for participating in alternative food networks. Int J Consum Stud 42:101–110. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12405
Acknowledgements
This research received support through Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (KAKENHI, 15KT0027 ‘‘Building a sustainable society through the integration between food sharing, low-carbon and resource efficient food supply system’’, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, from FY2015 to FY2017) and the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund (S-15 Predicting and Assessing Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services (PANCES)) of the Ministry of the Environment, Japan.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Handled by Patrick O’Farrell, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, South Africa.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tatebayashi, K., Kamiyama, C., Matsui, T. et al. Accounting shadow benefits of non-market food through food-sharing networks on Hachijo Island, Japan. Sustain Sci 14, 469–486 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-018-0580-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-018-0580-3