FY2026 Seafood Processing Collaboration Plan Support Program

1) Overview: This program is implemented by the Center for Promoting Distribution of Japanese Marine Products (Fisheries Product Stable Supply Promotion Organization) with subsidies from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. It supports integrated initiatives by stakeholders across the seafood supply chain (production, processing, distribution, sales) to address productivity improvement and sustainability in seafood processing and distribution. 2) Target: A 'collaboration council' (連携協議会) composed of two or more parties — seafood processors and others (fishery operators, processors, warehousing, wholesalers, logistics, retail/food service operators or their associations) together with other processors, financial institutions, local governments, research institutions, or private operators. Requirements include having a processing/distribution-stage operator, a designated representative organization and main office, and bylaws/accounting rules. 3) Eligible expenses: (1) Council operating expenses — building collaboration framework, business plan study, management consulting. (2) Startup support expenses — market research/negotiation, promotion materials, training, storage, handling fees, processing (new product development/prototyping), raw materials, electronic sales system introduction, transportation/logistics improvement, purchase of seafood processing/distribution equipment and materials. 4) Subsidy rate/cap/schedule: Council support is fixed-amount (max 4 million JPY). Startup support is up to 1/2. Total budget 174.43 million JPY. Application period: May 20 – June 26, 2026 (17:00 strict deadline). Project period: from grant decision (early Aug 2026) through Feb 26, 2027. Review committee screens applications; approval by the Fisheries Agency Commissioner is required. Nine document types must be submitted; equipment-purchase applications require additional 3-year financial statements and site location documents.