Food Education as a Regional Development Policy for All - with Implications from Community Development in Japan and Thailand

In this paper we examined whether food education for regional community will be an effective solutions for regional development or not. To answer this question, authors conducted field surveys in Thailand and Japan and identified important facts to increase the effectiveness. Firstly, we revealed necessity of food education to increase adding values into the local products and the double impact of the food education; increases community empowerment and reduces future medical burden. Secondly, our findings revealed the effectiveness of educational spending by using a regional input output table. Thirdly, by investing rural communities in Thailand, we revealed that the strong leaders are essential for the endogenous development. And rural food logo is creating new brand market. A public awareness of fostering local culture is required so that local areas can add values to their products. Finally, leadership training and cultural exchange programs can be suggested to scale-up the food education.