The development of functional agricultural products and their processed products

NARO (National Agriculture and Food Research Organization) has developed functional agricultural products, such as ‘Benifuuki’ green tea rich in anti-allergic O-methylated catechin, purple sweet potato rich in acylated anthocyanin, and Satsuma mandarin rich in β-cryptoxanthin. It was found that purple sweet potato had the hepatic function normalizing effect, the hypotensive effect and antioxidative action, and serum β-cryptoxanthin concentration strongly correlated with the low risk of hepatic dysfunction, the low risk of arterial sclerosis, the low risk of insulin resistance, high bone density in postmenopausal women, and low risk of metabolic syndrome in smoker. NARO research project on the development of functional agricultural products (from 2013 to 2015, total 2 billion yen) including some adopted research subjects is working towards the establishment of the development of health promoting agricultural products by cooperation with incorporated administrative agency, university, and private company. About the agricultural products (e.g. high amylose rice, flaked brown rice, β-conglycinin rich soybean, rutin rich tartary buckwheat, β-glucan rich barley, quercetin rich onion, and catechin rich green tea) and their processed products, we will estimate the reduction of disease risk in collaboration with medical institution, create the agricultural products database of nutrient components, functional components, safety and characteristics, and develop a nutritional instruction system depending on a personal health.