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Young entrepreneur sees rosy future in farming

15 Comments
By Sayo Sasaki

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15 Comments
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A wonderful example of how a bit of creativity and mae-muki thinking can produce new opportunities . While the old timers are sitting around talking the demise of their industry , blaming the youth for not adopting their ways there are unrealized opportunities everywhere, just like this lady realized. It has to be something new though, something different. As people become more food and diet savvy there will be a whole bunch of new niche markets appearing.

12 ( +12 / -0 )

I think this is awesome!!

Look, its easy to belittle or somehow minimize what she has done, but....

She is 25 yo and is actually being an entrepreneur. And not just in some latest tech or trendy thing.

There is going to be an opportunity in farming in Japan in the coming decades... and what I love is that this woman is starting out her life as an entrepreneur, with that becoming a part of her DNA!! How many entrepreneurs fail once or twice before hitting on a winner?!

Ganbatte!!

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Congratulations!

Maybe in 10 years she’ll be growing a much more lucrative kind of plant, for medical purposes only of course.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I have an amazing rose bush half a meter from where I’m siting outside my computer room window. Roses make you feel happy. I will research if it’s edible. Not only romantic, but blooming in winter when lots of other flowers are sleeping.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

There has been a big fad for edible flowers in the last couple of years in Japan. It's even reached inaka where I live. People use them to make salads and desserts more decorative.

Full marks to her for being in the right place at the right time, but as Yubaru says, that does not give her the right to start dishing out business-speak advice to all and sundry, especially those handling far more mainstream products. Being in the right place at the right time is not a transferable skill.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It is essential, imperative that Ayaka Tanaka is encouraged to share the experience of setting up her business.

Regardless of the type of business, passing on the trails, tribulations and challenges one may or may not be prepared for has to be recognised and admired.

ayakatanaka.roselabo

https://www.instagram.com/ayakatanaka.roselabo/?hl=en

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I started my business aged twenty four, I sincerely wish Ayaka Tanaka success.

Rose Labo

https://www.roselabo.jp/

0 ( +1 / -1 )

It is not the niche market she is in that matters it is the need for innovative thinking, which is the core of her success, which needs to be got across to potential farming entrepreneurs, doing what your great grandfather did just does not work any more.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Primary agriculture production is indeed a great opportunity. Hopefully the CPTPP trade deal will free Japanese farmers from being smothered by government cheese.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

She grows her plants hydroponically, avoiding soil so as not to require chemicals or pesticides

Of course there are chemicals involved in hydroponics. I think the writer meant to say, so as not to require herbicides or pesticides.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I want to let many people know of the potential in farming," she said, adding she considers it crucial to add something special to one's products and secure solid sales channels to make a sustainable farming business.

Please, this type of farming is a niche business at best. Farming takes a hell of a lot more than growing flowers which is not going to help feed the country in the future.

Yeah it's a nice feel-good article about one woman and her future plans,

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

yepp, i am interested in seeing how and where from funding is coming.. apparently that at least 3 first years that business was losing money ( if not still losing money ) so someone definitely had to fork a substantial cash.

I would be more interested in that piece because that is in fact the biggest issue with establishing the business.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

It didn't mention China because lot of different flowers are edible there and already got business.

I believe these edible flowers cure some diseases, it's kept secret by scientists and doctors for their own family and relatives. If it goes global, they will have problem getting it and prices go high, and some will be made fake.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

While the old timers are sitting around talking the demise of their industry , blaming the youth for not adopting their ways there are unrealized opportunities everywhere, just like this lady realized. It has to be something new though, something different. As people become more food and diet savvy there will be a whole bunch of new niche markets appearing.

Feel free to feed you and your family rose-petals! I prefer something more substantial, and if she wants to make a difference outside of her little business here, I want her to do some farming where everyone would benefit.

She knows little about farming in Japan when she makes comments like this;

"Producing cabbage or other products without detailed plans and selling them without knowing where they go is okay in one sense, but you are likely to end with reduced profits and a poorly run business, which the next generation will be reluctant to take over," Tanaka said.

She is talking out her butt here. Farmers here have detailed plans and know wtf they are doing. It's rather arrogant of her to suggest otherwise,

I give her credit for her business, she is the "head" of it, but I wonder who actually OWNS it!

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

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