Pursuing Food and Energy Self-Sufficiency for Thriving Rural Regeneration

While rural areas are often seen as facing a challenging future compared to urban centers, they hold unique potential for achieving food and energy self-sufficiency—something nearly impossible in cities. This session will showcase regions that are actively pursuing self-sufficiency in food and energy, exploring how these efforts can inspire a richer, more sustainable vision for the future of rural communities. Through these examples, we will discuss the possibilities for revitalizing rural areas by leveraging their inherent strengths and fostering resilience.

Speaker

Facilitator

Narumi Yoshikawa

Head, Appointed Professor
Research center for Uehiro Japan Environmental Studies
Research Institution for Nature and Culture

Narumi Yoshikawa, Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics, Head, Appointed Professor of the Uehiro Research Center for Japan Environmental Studies of Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN). She is also a Professor at the Graduate School of Management at the Prefectural University of Hiroshima. Her expertise spans participatory agriculture and food systems, as well as regional resource management, connecting Japan with various Asian countries.
In recent years, she has been designing environmental education programs, including fieldwork and workshop facilitation, under the theme of “considering the environment through culture.”

Her notable publications include Climate Change: Insights and Dialogue on New Environmental Ethics (2018), Convivialism: How to Live in an Era Without Economic Growth (2017), and Chinese Reforestation: Beyond Socialism and Capitalism (2016).