Agriculture & Livestock Industries Corporation

What Agriculture & Livestock Industries Corporation does

Agriculture & Livestock Industries Corporation (ALIC / 独立行政法人 農畜産業振興機構) is a Japanese Incorporated Administrative Agency established in 2003 under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The organization administers national price stabilization and income support programs for domestic agricultural and livestock producers, operating across four core commodity verticals: sugar (via the Sugar and Starch Price Adjustment Law), livestock (beef and pork through 牛マルキン and 豚マルキン schemes), vegetables, and starch. ALIC functions as a non-profit statutory stabilizer with no commercial pricing model, funded by adjustment fees collected from sugar importers and Japanese government budget allocations. Its headquarters are in Tokyo (Azabudai Hills, Minato-ku), with regional branch offices in Kagoshima and Naha serving southern sugar-producing regions.

ALIC's technology portfolio comprises web-based information and transaction systems: ベジ探 (Vegetan), a comprehensive vegetable supply-demand, price, and retail trend monitoring platform; ベジマチ (Vegemachi), a B2B matching platform connecting buyers with domestic vegetable producers; a 食肉の需給予測 (meat supply-demand forecasting) service; and a 砂糖類売買手続きシステム (sugar trading procedure system) that mediates mandatory pre-customs transactions for designated sugar and isomerized sugar imports. Information dissemination extends through a monthly web magazine (alic), YouTube-streamed seminars, and active social media channels. ALIC also runs emergency response programs for natural disasters (e.g., Noto Peninsula earthquake livestock support) and livestock disease outbreaks such as African Swine Fever.

The organization serves domestic sugarcane producers in Okinawa and Kagoshima, sugar beet farmers in Hokkaido, beef cattle and pig farmers nationally, vegetable growers across Japan, and sugar importers who must use ALIC's transaction systems before customs declaration. International engagement occurs through information exchange with Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) and joint seminars with JETRO and EU partners. As a government administrative institution, ALIC operates without profit motive and functions as a policy-implementation body rather than a commercial enterprise.

Name

Agriculture & Livestock Industries Corporation

Website

https://alic.go.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Short description

ALIC is a Japanese Incorporated Administrative Agency under MAFF that administers price stabilization programs, income support, and information systems for domestic agricultural and livestock producers across sugar, livestock, vegetable, and starch sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Policy Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Animal Production (11521), Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (926140), All Other Animal Production (112990)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700), Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200)

akta.pro primary industry

Livestock Health & Welfare Support Services (Vaccination Clinics, Biosecurity Implementation) (AFACAEAK)

Keywords

• Agricultural price stabilization
• Livestock income support
• Sugar import adjustment
• Vegetable supply-demand system
• Agricultural policy implementation

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Sugar Import Adjustment Fees: Collects adjustment fees (調整金) from sugar importers under the Sugar and Starch Price Adjustment Law to support domestic sugarcane and sugar beet producers.
2. Government Budget Allocation: Receives funding through the Japanese national government budget as an independent administrative institution to implement agricultural stabilization policies.
3. Agricultural Income Stabilization: Operates price stabilization programs for livestock (beef, pork), vegetables, sugar, and starch through producer support payments and market intervention.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

ALIC is a Japanese Incorporated Administrative Agency that implements agricultural and livestock industry stabilization programs for domestic producers. Its core operations include managing the sugar import price adjustment system, administering livestock income stabilization payments (beef cattle and pig management stabilization), running vegetable supply-demand and price information systems, providing meat supply-demand forecasts, and delivering emergency agricultural support during disasters and disease outbreaks.

Product overview

Agriculture & Livestock Industries Corporation (ALIC) operates a portfolio of web-based systems and services focused on agricultural and livestock industry support in Japan. The core offerings include ベジ探 (Vegetan), a comprehensive vegetable information system providing market data and price trends, and ベジマチ (Vegemachi), a B2B matching platform for domestic vegetable trade. Additional services include meat supply/demand forecasting, a sugar trading transaction management system, monthly publications (広報誌alic), and official social media channels. The organization serves as a government-backed corporation managing price stabilization, supply-demand adjustment, and emergency response for Japan's agricultural sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vegetan (ベジ探) Vegetable Information Comprehensive Management System Web-based information system providing vegetable supply, demand, retail price trend surveys, and market analysis for vegetable producers, distributors, and policymakers in Japan.
• Vegemachi (ベジマチ) Domestic Vegetable Matching Site Online matching platform connecting buyers with domestic Japanese vegetable producers to facilitate direct business relationships for domestically grown produce.
• Sugar Trading Procedure System (砂糖類売買手続きシステム) Online administrative system handling mandatory sugar import procedures for ALIC, including online applications, security deposit management, and transaction management before customs declaration under the Sugar and Starch Price Adjustment Law.
• Meat Supply and Demand Forecasting Service (食肉の需給予測) Forecasting and analysis service providing predictions for the Japanese meat market to support business planning by livestock producers, processors, and distributors.
• Beef Cattle Management Stabilization Program (牛マルキン) Income stabilization payment program providing financial support to Japanese beef cattle farmers during periods of market price decline, funded through producer contributions and government budget.
• Pig Management Stabilization Program (豚マルキン) Income stabilization payment program providing financial support to Japanese pig farmers when market prices fall below cost of production, ensuring business continuity for pork producers.
• Emergency Livestock Disease Response Program Emergency support program responding to livestock disease outbreaks such as African Swine Fever (ASF) and other crises, providing resources to prevent disease spread and support affected producers.
• Natural Disaster Agricultural Support Program Emergency support program for agricultural producers affected by natural disasters, exemplified by the Noto Peninsula earthquake livestock support response.
• alic Monthly Web Magazine (alic 広報誌) Monthly publication delivering articles on agricultural topics, producer stories, recipes, and industry updates connecting consumers with Japan's agriculture sector.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, moderate and minor.

• Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular information exchange meetings (定期情報交換会議) held between ALIC and MLA, focusing on livestock market information, industry trends, and bilateral cooperation in the livestock sector.
• Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint seminars and events such as the JETRO-EU-alic Seminar on food and agricultural topics, promoting international trade and market access information.
• Japan Agricultural Mutual Aid Association (農業年金基金)minorOthersRelated agricultural organization linked through the official links page for stakeholder reference.
• Agricultural and Food Research Organization (NARO)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with NARO's Hokkaido and Kyushu-Okinawa research centers on agricultural technology and production research.
• Wellneo Sugar Co., Ltd. (ウェルネオシュガー株式会社)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSugar industry partner advertised on ALIC's website, indicating a working relationship within the sugar distribution sector.
• HanaKi Kogyo Co., Ltd. (花木工業株式会社)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner company advertised on ALIC's website within the sugar industry.
• Toyo Seito Co., Ltd. (東洋精糖株式会社)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSugar manufacturing partner advertised on ALIC's website.
• Japan Livestock Modernization Lease Association (畜産近代化リース協会)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting livestock modernization through lease arrangements for agricultural equipment.
• Central Association of Livestock Industry (公益社団法人中央畜産会)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerALIC refers to 畜産ZOO鑑 (livestock encyclopedia) maintained by this organization for educational resources on dairy, beef, pig, and poultry farming.
• Japan Meat Consumption総合センター (公益財団法人日本食肉消費総合センター)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerALIC links to the meat terminology glossary (食肉関係用語集) provided by this organization for consumer education.
• Central Dairy Council (一般社団法人中央酪農会議)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerALIC links to the dairy terminology dictionary (ことば辞典) provided by this organization for educational resources.
• 精糖工業会 (Seito Kogyo Kai / Japan Sugar Refiners Association)moderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSugar refining industry association linked through ALIC's sugar sector information pages, indicating coordination in the sugar price adjustment system.
• シュガーチャージ推進協議会 (Sugar Charge Promotion Council)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry organization promoting sugar consumption, linked through ALIC's sugar sector information.
• 北海道てん菜協会 (Hokkaido Beet Association)moderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrganization representing sugar beet producers in Hokkaido, linked through ALIC's sugar sector information for producer coordination.
• 日本スターチ・糖化工業会 (Japan Starch and Sugar Processing Industry Association)moderateChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndustry association for starch and sugar processing, linked through ALIC's starch sector information.
• Tokyo Commodity Exchange (株式会社東京商品取引所)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommodity exchange where sugar futures trading occurs, linked through ALIC's sugar sector information.
• Japan Agricultural Machinery Association ((一社)日本農業機械化協会)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAssociation promoting agricultural mechanization, linked through agricultural producer support information.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Ministry for Primary Industries (New Zealand): New Zealand's primary industries ministry covering agriculture, livestock, and food sectors with policy and stabilization functions analogous to MAFF/ALIC's combined role.
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada: Canadian federal department with similar policy mandate covering agricultural stabilization, market information, and producer support programs across livestock and crop sectors.
• European Commission DG AGRI: The EU's agricultural policy directorate managing CAP programs including market intervention, producer support, and supply stabilization across member states — broader scope but comparable stabilization mandate.
• Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF): ALIC's parent ministry that sets agricultural policy and oversees budget allocations. As the broader Japanese agricultural policy authority, MAFF is the incumbent policy counterpart to ALIC's implementation role.

Direct peers

• USDA Farm Service Agency: Administers US farm income stabilization and disaster assistance programs, paralleling ALIC's 牛マルキン/豚マルキン livestock management stabilization schemes and emergency response functions.
• USDA Agricultural Marketing Service: The US federal agency most directly comparable to ALIC in function — administers price support, market information, and stabilization programs across agricultural commodities under government mandate. Closest functional analog for ALIC's mandate scope.

Regional players

• Korea Rural Economic Institute (KREI): Korean agricultural policy research institute that supports agricultural stabilization policy analysis and market information — regional peer with similar mandate in Korea's agricultural sector.

Others

• Japan Agricultural Cooperatives (JA Group): Japan's major agricultural cooperative federation providing producer support, distribution, and market access — operates parallel to ALIC in supporting Japanese farmers but as a cooperative rather than government agency.
• USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service: US federal statistical agency providing agricultural market data and supply-demand information — analogous to ALIC's Vegetan vegetable information system and broader statistical publications function.
• Meat & Livestock Australia: Australian livestock industry research and marketing body that ALIC conducts regular information exchange meetings with — comparable in livestock sector market information provision despite different ownership structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRF--V3AfWIg0VypmKBwKOQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/alicjapan
• Instagraminstagram.com/alicjapan

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Agriculture & Livestock Industries Corporation