Back Mr. T. Chamberlain
Chairman, New Zealand Nature Farming Society, Christchurch, New Zealand
Chairman Sir Peter Elworthy, Mr. Jim Anderton, The Deputy Prime Minister
of New Zealand, Professor Dr.Teruo Higa Chairman of the Conference, Dr.
T Kawashima, Senior Managing Director. International Nature Farming Research
Center, Atami, Japan, Ms. Liz Clay, World Board Member of the International
Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements, Mr. Segar Mason, the Chief
Executive Officer, Bio-Gro, New Zealand, Dr. Morgan Williams, Commissioner
for the Environment, Dr. H. L. Xu,, Director of the International Nature
Farming Research Center, Atami, Japan, Distinguished Guests from over 30
countries and New Zealand, Dear Friends,
Kia Ora, Welcome to Aoteroa, the Land of the Long White Cloud, its Garden City of Christchurch and to this 7th International Conference on Kyusei Nature Farming.
It gives me great pleasure, as the Chairman of the organization in New
Zealand responsible for arranging this conference, and also as the person
whose farm was judged the best organic farm by the Lincoln Trust last year,
to welcome you all to this conference, being held at this time of the year,
when crops are awaiting the harvest and the flowers are in bloom.
The conference, which is presumed to be the last of the series of International
Conferences on Kyusei Nature Farming has selected the theme Kyusei Nature
Farming for the 21st century. This theme is most appropriate to this part
of the world, where sustainable agriculture is of paramount importance
and which is trying to preserve its pristine environment. The principle
reason for this is that Kyusei Nature Farming, as advocated by its founder
Mokichi Okada is based on methods of ecological farming that is gathering
momentum in all parts of the world, and also in New Zealand. Furthermore,
the principles advocate the use of available resources on the farm, without
harming ecological balances to produce quality food for the present and
also the future. This is a system of agriculture, which also facilitates
the promotion of the microbial life within the farming system by using
the technology of Effective Microorganisms. It is one that people, especially
those with concern for ecological aspects of farming and the management
of the environment, should consider, discuss, learn and adopt.
The New Zealand Nature Farming Society has been the key organization promoting
this method of farming and more importantly, the use of Effective Microorganisms,
commonly termed EM, within New Zealand. The project was undertaken in the
mid 1990s after the International Conference of IFOAM held at Lincoln University.
The technology, which uses microbes from New Zealand, thus not importing
any organism from overseas, has been adopted by many people, especially
in the south island for increasing productivity of organic systems and
also for overcoming problems of organic waste management. The technology
also has the approval of Bio-Gro, New Zealand. Thus, the New Zealand Nature
Farming Society was the obvious choice to be called upon to organize this
conference in Christchurch. This becomes a strategic aspect, to follow
the IFOAM conference held 7 years ago, to inform farmers who adopted organic
systems, a methodology that could enhance productivity to a greater extent
while maintaining and more importantly improving the ecological balances
of their farming systems.
The organizing committee has endeavored to develop a sound program to highlight
the scientific basis of Kyusei Nature Farming and EM Technology, along
with case studies from all over the world as well from New Zealand. Field
trips have been organized to show the potential of Kyusei Nature Farming
and the technology of Effective Microorganisms for agriculture and environmental
management in the 21st century. Thus, it is with great pleasure that I
welcome you to this conference to observe, learn, debate and possibly adopt
the technology presented at this conference.
The participation in a conference does not mean education alone. New Zealand,
and especially Christchurch and its environments offer many natural scenic
sites that are exceptionally beautiful. As the field visits do not cover
these aspects, I do request the overseas participants to visit these sites.
It is something special. We Kiwis are a friendly lot and will help whenever
possible.
Thus, I do welcome you all to our beautiful country, this garden city and
to this conference. It is a special occasion and we are pleased to be your
hosts. Enjoy New Zealand and its gracious hospitality and learn the technologies
that are presented at the conference for possible adoption, to maintain
agricultural productivity while preserving the environment for the future
generations.
Thank you.