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Kyusei Nature Farming: A Sustainable Farming Method for the 2lst Century

Rev. Yasushi Matsumoto

Chairman of the Board, International Nature Farming Research Center, and President of Sekai Kyusei Kyo, Atami, Japan

First I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. James Parr, National Program Leader for the Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, for serving as chairman of this Third International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming. I would also like to thank Mr. Richard Rominger, Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture for his timely comments on sustainable agriculture. Last, but certainly not least, I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to all of those people and organizations who contributed so much of their time and efforts to ensure that this conference was a success. This conference brings together scientists, administrators, farmers, consumers, and environmentalists representing local, state and federal institutions, non-governmental organizations (NGO's) and private voluntary organizations (PVO's), all of whom are interested in helping to achieve a more sustainable agriculture and environment both domestically and worldwide. The theme of this conference, "Nature Farming for a Sustainable Agriculture" is significant and timely. Also, it is most appropriate that this Third International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming is being held here in California where there is such a strong movement toward organic farming and sustainable agriculture.

Kyusei Nature Farming is a method of farming without the use of synthetic chemicals. It is based on the ideals and principles of nature farming that were advocated earlier by Mokichi Okada (1882-1955), a Japanese naturalist and philosopher who founded Sekai Kyusei Kyo. The word "Kyusei" in Japanese literally means "saving," and Kyusei Nature Farming implies that the world can be saved through natural or nature farming methods. Kyusei Nature Farming is based on the following five requirements:

  1. It must produce safe and nutritious food to enhance human health.
  2. It must be economically and spiritually beneficial to both producers and consumers.
  3. It must be sustainable and easily practiced.
  4. It must conform to natural systems and preserve/protect the environment.
  5. It must produce enough food to support the world population.

We in Sekai Kyusei Kyo believe that Kyusei Nature Farming can fulfill these five requirements, and our mission is to extend this method of farming throughout the world. We also believe that this knowledge will help to eradicate disease, poverty and conflict while promoting peace and understanding.

Positive results of research studies on Kyusei Nature Farming have been reported in earlier publications including the Proceedings of the First International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming held in October 1989 in Thailand, and the Second Conference held in October 1991 in Brazil. At this Third Conference, research results on Kyusei Nature Farming will be presented by scientists representing countries of the Asia-Pacific Natural Agriculture Network (APNAN) and the South American Natural Agriculture Network (SANAN). We will continue to support cooperative research with scientists and institutions throughout the world to enhance the scientific and technical credibility of Kyusei Nature Farming, and its establishment as a sustainable farming method.

I wish you a most successful conference and hope that it provides new ideas and strategies for the development of natural farming systems that can improve the sustainability of agriculture, the environment, and the quality of life in your respective countries and worldwide.

Thank you very much.