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Kyusei Nature Farming and EM Technology for the Twenty-First Century

Y. Matsumoto

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

Distinguished Guests

Conference Participants

Ladies and Gentlemen

First I wish to express my sincere appreciation to Mr. Herve La Prairie, President of IFOAM for accepting our invitation to serve as chairman of this important conference, and to his dedicated staff and associates who worked so hard to ensure that the conference was a success. This Fourth International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming will address a number of issues that are vital to agriculture worldwide including soil quality, environmental quality, and human and animal health. All of these have been adversely affected, to some degree, by the use and misuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in conventional farming methods. As an alternative to agrichemicals, the conference will discuss the philosophy, science and techniques of Kyusei Nature Farming, and the concept and application of Effective Microorganisms (EM) for a more sustainable agriculture and environment. Consequently, it is most appropriate that this conference is being held in France, one of the leading agricultural countries in the world, where versions of organic farming and nature faming are well-established.

Kyusei Nature Farming is a method of farming without the use of agrichemicals. It is based on the principles of nature farming that were advocated by Mokichi Okada (1882-l955), a Japanese naturalist and philosopher who founded Sekai Kyusei Kyo. The word gKyuseih in Japanese means saving, and implies that Kyusei Nature Farming can save the world by eradicating disease, poverty and conflict, in effect creating a gparadise on earthh for all mankind.

It follows then that the concept and practice of Kyusei Nature Farming must satisfy five important requirements:

  1. It must produce safe and nutritious food that enhances human health.
  2. It must be spiritually and economically beneficial to both producers and consumers.
  3. It must be easily practiced and increasingly sustainable over time.
  4. It must respect nature and preserve the environment.
  5. It must produce sufficient food for an increasing world population.

We believe that publicizing the significant potential of this method of farming can provide one of the most expedient ways of achieving world peace.

Currently, researchers in a number of countries are working diligently to further improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Kyusei Nature Farming, especially in conjunction with the application of a new technology, i.e., Effective Microorganisms. Results of these studies have shown consistent significant increases in the yield and quality of crops compared with conventional farming methods. These findings have been reported at many international conferences including the three conferences on Kyusei Nature Farming (i.e., Thailand 1989; Brazil 1991; United States 1993) and the Annual EM Technology Conferences sponsored by the Asia-Pacific Natural Agriculture Network (APNAN).

More recent results of research on Kyusei Nature Farming and EM Technology will be presented by scientists attending this Fourth International Conference. Through these conferences, we hope to extend our network of cooperation to all countries that are interested in conducting research on Kyusei Nature Farming and EM technology, and disseminating their results to others.

I believe that this Fourth Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming provides an excellent forum for scientists, administrators, consumers, environmentalists, teachers and students to consider the development of more efficient and sustainable agricultural production systems for the twenty-first century.

I wish you a most successful conference, one that generates new ideas and strategies for cooperative research and education programs which will benefit your respective countries, the world and all of mankind.

Thank you very much.



* Rev. Matsumoto was unable to attend the Conference; thus, his paper was presented by Rev. Setsunori Shinoda, Director, International Department, Sekai Kyusei Kyu, Atulli, Japan.