Part 2/9:
The Global Context of Aging Farmers
While at face value, the aging demographics of Japanese farmers may seem similar to trends seen in other developed nations—where American farmers are an average of 58 years old and Australian ones 63—these situations differ significantly. Historically, agricultural employment around the world has seen a decrease due to rising efficiency. For instance, the proportion of farmers in the U.S. has fallen from 50% of the population in 1880 to just 1% today. Despite this decline, agricultural output has soared, primarily driven by advancements in technology such as mechanization, fertilizers, and irrigation.