The farm-type TMR center as a regional farming system in Hokkaido

Abstract

This paper derives the issues of further research on the farm-type TMR center (i.e.. regional farming system) through a literature review. I categorized studies on the farm-type TMR center into the following three types: (I) the farm-type TMR center system. (2) its management, and (3) its impact on members. I organized the trends of those studies by type, further clarified the issues of each type, and presented other research topics by comparing the farm-type TMR center with the similar notion of community-based farming (CRT). The results were as follows: first, researchers did not necessarily have a common understanding of the farm-type TMR center system. Thus, it unified view was necessary. Secondly, funding and labor problems are two management issues of the farm-type TMR center. In particular, the labor problem issues entail a serious situation. Thirdly, early studies showed a positive impact of the farm-type TMR center on its members, w here as recent studies have shown a negative impact, finally, a comparison wilh the CBF study showed that the organizational base of the "local group type" of farm-type TMR center was similar to that of CBF, and that the "local group type" could possibly become an entity of community development.