APNAN NEWS 20(2) final 2

Transcription

APNAN NEWS 20(2)
20th Anniversary Edition
Asia Pacific Natural Agriculture Network
APNAN is
sponsored by
EMRO
INFRC
SKK
“In recent years, human health has been affected by residual poisons in the food that is consumed. Health budgets of
nations are spent on diseases caused by the consumption of polluted food and thus the demand for natural food is
growing due to its non-polluted nature. Nature Farming offers hope in this venture – as produce from this technology
is non-polluted, tastes better and have a longer shelf life. They are good even for very ill people. Thus the promotion
of Nature Farming will help humankind lead a better life in a clean environment.”
(Mokichi Okada 1882 – 1955)
(Adapted from the appendices of the Book Johrei, Divine Light of Salvation)
“Á‚É‰½‚©‚ð‚µ‚½‚í‚¯‚Å‚Í‚È‚-•A‹ï‘Ì“I‚É˜b‚ð‚·‚é‚É‚Í•Š‚ç‚È‚¢“à—e‚¾‚Á‚½‚Ì‚Å
ASIA PACIFIC NATURAL AGRICULTURE NETWORK……….
APNAN, the little network, huddled within the Kularb Apartment in Saphankhwai, Bangkok, Thailand, was first
established in 1989 with 13 member nations, and funded by the International Nature Farming Research Center, Atami,
Japan, through the generous support of the Sekai Kyusei Kyo, Japan and Thailand. The mandate given at its inception
was to elucidate the scientific basis and validity of Nature Farming and the technology of Effective Microorganisms
(EM), which was integrated into the concepts of Nature Farming.
From small beginnings, the network moved on to facilitate research, information, producing EM, advising all interested
on Nature Farming and training people from all walks of life. The network helped organize major conferences on Kyusei
Nature Farming in four continents and was instrumental in presenting the identity of Nature Farming at international
fora such as the IFOAM conferences. The network was also responsible for planting seeds of interest on the technology
of Effective Microorganisms in all continents of the world and today EM is being blended into even chemical systems
to reduce pollution to help preserve the environment for future generations, as advocated by Mokichi Okada, the
founder of Nature Farming principles.
The network also provides training on Nature Farming and EM technology to interested groups, using the excellent
facilities offered at Sara Buri Nature Farming Center, managed by the Sekai Kyusei Kyo of Thailand. Information is
disseminated, and the Newsletter produced thrice a year among a readership spanning all continents.
The network is run by a few staff and volunteers and is very efficient in its management of resources. Today it is
sponsored by the EM Research Organization of Okinawa, the INFRC of Japan and is supported by the Sekai Kyusei
Kyo of Japan and Thailand.
All interested in the work of the network – please contact its office at
APNAN,
Kularb Apartment, 29 Soi Suparat, Phahonyothin Road,
Samsennai, Phayathai, Bangkok 10400 Thailand.
Phone: +66 2 272 7061
Fax : +66 2 616 6022
Email : apnanmail@yahoo.co.jp
Website: www.apnan.org
Volume 20 (2) Special issue
2
importantly helped humankind all over with care
and concern and always with a smile on our faces.
This has been our success – Modesty and
moderation at all times.
As the editor penned in the last newsletter – have
we been successful in all aspects? The reply
unfortunately is No! We still have to move forward
in providing scientific validation – of the
technologies. We have demonstrated that both
Nature Farming and EM work in all aspects in all
environments in a holistic manner, and now after
20 years, which is not a long time, when
compared to the development of other
technologies, we have achieved something. Now
the onus is on us to validate these examples by
research and extension, to convince the dogmatic
and skeptical world that this is science and nature
acting. We all know that nature works in a hidden
way – at times, it is so unpredictable. We consider
Nature Farming, which attempts to emulate Nature
in providing healthy food for humankind, also to
behave in a similar manner – and more so EM,
which is a mixture of microbes. Thus research
on this aspect is difficult and complex, and most
importantly, very expensive!! The budget we have
is not significant – but with the grace of god and
the support of our sponsors and colleagues, we
are taking steps to do this important job in a solid
manner. If one checks the Web of Knowledge,
we find many research papers citing the success
of EM in respected internationally cited Journals.
We also find papers stating that the use of EM is
not harmful to the environment. This is indeed
heartening and we hope that we will be able to
compile them in the future.
Our journey through the 20 years has not been
easy – we have had our triumphs and some
significant disappointments. The latter has always
been associated with unscrupulous people, who
did not realize the vision of Nature Farming and
EM Technology. These were gifts to humanity
by great people – and are components of humanity
that cannot be exploited for personal gains. We at
APNAN never did it – and those who were after
financial and personal benefits dropped off along
the way – this was nature acting against those
working against its philosophy!! However these
people, some eminent in their respective countries
today have resorted to imitations and are
struggling to break through – half-heartedly!
However, we go on, we have had problems with
FROM THE EDITOR’S PEN…………….
A NEW BEGINNING AS WE LOOK
AHEAD…….
APNAN, the little network, based in a alley in
Sapankhwai in Bangkok, Thailand, is 20 years
old!!!! Can you just imagine what it feels like to
be associated with an organization, that is so small
and insignificant, that it even does not catch the
eyes and attention of other similar networks, like
a mustard seed in a pot of stew, but its activities
over 20 years have spanned the globe to spread
Nature Farming and EM Technology in all
continents? This is what we have achieved
through this period of two decades – through
diligence, effective management (EM!!) and care
and concern towards all who seek our help,
through low but highly efficient systems of
operations. APNAN was founded on a theme of
scientifically validating Nature Farming and EM
Technology in the mandate region. The founding
fathers from 13 (A lucky number!!) nations
ranging from Pakistan eastwards through Asia
into the east coast of the USA had visions of a
short lifespan for this network. However, our
work became successful each year to expand the
operations to almost all nations of Asia. The
expectations where EM was not made were Papua
New Guinea and Brunei in Asia, although we took
EM to these nations as well. We also engulfed
the biggies of Oceania, namely Australia and New
Zealand, who have taken EM to the island nations
around them. What was more was that our
activities in the region and beyond made us plant
effective seeds of our technologies in all
continents – and even today we do help out in
the non mandate areas of Europe, Latin, Central
and North Americas and Africa. No meeting on
EM is complete without an input from this little
network – as it has the capacity for organization,
management and even to provide scientific
background to such events. Looking back over
time, we can easily state that we have made Nature
Farming and EM Technology popular in most
organic forums internationally. The most
successful has been the roads we made into
IFOAM, who earlier ridiculed our work, but today
accepts our research and progress for
presentation at their international conferences. We
have placed the literature on web sites and search
engines; we have developed blogs and most
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budgets, people and facilities – but there was
always a silver lining in the dark clouds, a rainbow
showing us the pathway and hence we have
managed to overcome all these obstacles and
continue our journey of promoting Nature
Farming and EM for the last 20 years in a very
successful manner.
At the end of 20 years – and at the beginning of
a new era, we at APNAN extend a lending hand
to all – friends and adversaries. Nature Farming
and EM acts in a manner of co-existence and
co-prosperity. Thus we do request at this time to
all those who now produce imitations – let’s mend
fences and work together – the working of a
greater team is strength – United we are strong,
divided we fall – (we even may say you fall!) –
As many have shown. We have the real product
and the real technology – we will accept anyone
joining our fold – we have done it and will continue
to do so – Thus our appeal, made from the center
of our hearts through goodwill and friendship is
– let us get together again to work with Nature
Farming and EM in their real true holistic fashion
to make this world a better place for humankind.
Thus dear friends – let us adopt the real Nature
Farming and EM technologies and not the
imitations of EM and its synonyms – It’s our
sponsors the INFRC and EMRO and us who have
the real things – let’s bury the hatchets of
competition and work in co-existence and coprosperity for the next 20 or more years to help
humanity enjoy a healthy life while leaving behind
a clean environment for the future generations.
At the end of 20 years – do we throw a big party?
No dear friends – we will not! That is not our
style – but yes, we will gather to discuss the
way forward, and rectify the faults that we have.
We are all human and we have our faults – We
ask for forgiveness from those who were affected
by our lapses and faults – we will meet and get
directions from our sponsors – both INFRC and
EMRO – and ask the important question – where
do you see APNAN going in the next 20 years!!
This is what we will do – and not just waste
money on parties, which we can put to better
use – However this does mean that we are mean
- we will at least have a meal together to laugh
and enjoy and reminisce about the past and look
to the future.As we celebrate 20 years of
existence – we at APNAN feel that we are a
fortunate lot! Most of our contacts over the years
have been honest and have complied with our
aspirations and objectives. We have been
fortunate to have INFRC and EMRO sponsor us
– and we owe them a deep sense of gratitude.
Thus we say Thank you to our sponsors – The
International Nature Farming Research Center in
Atami, Japan, EM Research Organization in
Okinawa,– and the Sekai Kyusei Kyo of Thailand,
and it’s President, Revd Daiho Kasahara for
guidance, advice, support and very importantly
for allowing us to use their facility at Sara Buri –
the Paradise on Earth. We offer our deep gratitude
to Mr. Kanit Muangnil and his able assistant
Masanobu Sakurai, who help us with conducting
workshops, trainings and with visitors. We also
make a special mention of Ms. Keiko Nakazawa,
the ex accountant of Sekai Kyusei Kyo of
Thailand, who helped us in numerous ways and
was a mother to the young lads and ladies
working here at APNAN, away from their
families. To all of them - as the smiling Thais say
– Kop Kun Krap!
Our little network humbly wishes to express its
deep gratitude to Rev. Tetsuo Watanabe,
President of Sekai Kyusei Kyo and Rev. Sho
Kobayashi, Head of the EM Laboratory and Board
member of Sekai Kyusei Kyo, for their ever
willing support - Their advice is valuable to us –
Although at times we may be at fault for not
adhering to their requirements, we value their
judgment and are ever grateful for their presence
at times of need. Thus, as we promote Nature
Farming as advocated by Mokichi Okada, we
request them to help and guide us at all times.
Our heartfelt gratitude is extended to the genial
Rev. K. Amano, Chairman, Board of Directors
of INFRC, Mr. T. Harakawa, Senior Managing
Director of INFRC, Mr. J. Yuzuriha, Managing
Director, Mr. A. Ito, Manager Extension Division
of INFRC and Mr. H. Okubo, Head of the
International Section of INFRC for their advice
and support – both in terms of staff and funds.
We say a hearty thank you to Mr. Katsuyuki
Asato, President and Board of Directors of EM
Research Organization in Okinawa for their
increasing support and advice – without this, we
would surely close!! We also offer our respects
and heartfelt gratitude to our dear President
Professor. Dr. Teruo and Madam Setsuko Higa
for their omnipresence – their guidance and
support is a primary source of strength to us.
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APNAN is also grateful to its ex senior technical
officers and other officers who have been with
us for short or long periods for their contact and
guidance – we have helped them to be what they
are – and hence they are family to us.
At present, the little network is managed by the
ever smiling Jun Matsumoto, who along with
four others shoulders the responsibilities of doing
the work of APNAN. They do it well and in a real
friendly and brotherly way – in harmony like the
microbes in EM and the components of a
successful natural ecosystem. We also have the
helping hand of Ms Silpakul (Ms O) the
administrative assistant to do our job very
successfully – APNAN is successful today
because of their dedication to their task.
At the end of it all, the editor, who has penned
this newsletter for 20 long years is happy – that
APNAN is successful. The editor (whoever it may
be) is smiling, looking back over the past 20 years
– happy to be able to survive this long and– when
almost all of the founding members are no longer
with us – that perseverance and goodwill has
helped this path – amidst all other tasks that is
entrusted - not be bothered about the trivialities
that rocked the network, and even sit down on a
Saturday morning to finish off this very special
newsletter which to some extent records the
history of APNAN – with a clear conscience and
clean heart.
Thus on behalf of all at APNAN – the editor
pledges to keep going as long as the services are
required – as working at APNAN is a privilege
and something done with modesty and voluntarily.
Hence dear friends – we will keep going as long
as we are wanted – on a very low budget as
always!
As we trend the path of the 20 th year we at
APNAN state that we are with the world and
humanity and
WISH ALL THOSE WORKING WITH US – A
VERY SUCCESSFUL FUTURE!
APNAN, Bangkok, Thailand
July, 2009
A selection of our activities
Arranging conferences
Meeting VIPs
Working with farmers
The Cover page presents in a clockwise direction
beginning from the top left – Our four offices –
St. Louis Soi 2, Thaninthorn village Rang Sit,
Monririn Building Sapankhwai and our present
home – Kularb Apartment respectively.
Networking in the region
5
INSPIRATION FROM OUR DEAR
PRESIDENT, PROFESSOR DR TERUO HIGA
The Asia Pacific
N a t u r a l
Agricultural
N e t w o r k
(APNAN) was
established in
response to the
earnest request
by many eminent
scientists,
spearheaded by
those from the
Department of
Agriculture of the
United States of America, who attended the First
International Conference on Kyusei Nature
Farming, held in Khon Kaen, Thailand in October,
1989. This was the first time that an international
gathering discussed Kyusei Nature Farming and
technology of Effective Microorganisms (EM) the
latter, which was developed by me and given to
the world. The scientists were amazed at the
potential and thus requested the formation of a
network (APNAN) to scientifically validate the
technologies and spread it in the region. This led
to many amazing things – the most important
being that with significant support and assistance
from the Asian Human Resource Center of Nature
Farming at Sara Buri in Thailand, which is
managed as a paradise on Earth by the Sekai
Kyusei Kyo of the Royal Kingdom, APNAN
accepted thousands of people over the last 20
years from Thailand, the Asia Pacific region and
also from other continents, especially Europe, to
train them on Nature Farming and EM and the
real sustainable way of agriculture and
environmental management.
APNAN is an exceptional network - specialists in
Nature Farming and EM are stationed at the
Headquarters of APNAN in Bangkok, to manage
the overseas programs and take swift action to
meet demands from member and even nonmember nations – thus the work of the network
is highly appreciated globally. Moreover, APNAN
has forged very close links with many
international organizations, especially the
International Federation of Organic Agriculture
Movements (IFOAM) to take the technologies
promoted by APNAN to the wider organic world.
This led to the popularization of the technologies
among the organic world on an international scale.
APNAN has made steady progress, spreading
Nature Farming and EM and supporting
governments and more importantly resource poor
farmers who cultivate small allotments with scare
resources – which was the initial objective of
APNAN. These achievements are now known
throughout the world, and EM Technology is
regarded as an integral factor in the state support
for the poor farmers of nations such as Myanmar
and Peru. Thus, I am aware that over a million
households in Latin America and similar numbers
in Asia and even in Africa and Europe make use
of EM as a clear and successful solution to
environmental issues, a supportive addition to
organic farming and in the poorer nations, a
possible solution to food scarcity. These
achievements have been possible due to the
diligent activities of APNAN, which is working
under my guidance. The old prejudices and
misunderstandings that EM is not safe are now
over, thanks to the pioneers who walked the hard
road with APNAN to overcome these obstacles.
Today EM and Nature Farming are appreciated
globally.
It is with happiness and contentment that I send
this message to the special issue of the Newsletter
developed for its 20th anniversary - It is an
international network, developed with vision and
with diligence, primarily on a volunteer basis. Its
achievements have been many and mistakes – a
few. We are overcoming these mistakes and
building on our achievements.
I take this opportunity to express my sincere
thanks to the International Nature Farming
Research Center and the Sekai Kyusei Kyo
Movement of Atami, Japan, also of Thailand,
which has been supporting APNAN, and to the
EM Research Organization for its initiatives in
promoting the activities of the network. I would
also fail in my duty if I fail to mention the
hardworking people who have toiled away behind
the scenes from the inception of the network to
bring it to its current status. To all of them, I
offer by gratitude and wish the network the very
best for its future. I on my part do assure APNAN
that I will strive to do my best to provide guidance
to further expand the activities of APNAN to
humankind.
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MESSAGES OF FELICITATION FROM OUR
SPONSORS
MESSAGE OF THE MOST REV. TETSUO
WATANABE, PRESIDENT SEKAI KYUSEI
KYO IZUNOME JAPAN…..
The Asia Pacific Natural Agriculture Network
(APNAN) was
established in
1989, at the First
International
Kyusei Nature
F a r m i n g
Conference, and
has been active for
20
years
in
promoting Nature
Farming
and
environmental
management in the
mandate region. I
am pleased that APNAN has had significant
success in this venture. Hence I am very happy
that APNAN has passed the twenty year mark
with great success and do appreciate the people
who are actively involved in this network in
promoting Nature Farming. Today, humans face
a great crisis in food, health and environment.
Mokichi Okada, who foresaw these problems,
established Nature Farming and advocated it for
the creation of happiness of humans. Thus,
Mokichi Okada explained the methods of solving
these problems faced by humanity through Nature
Farming. I hope that activities of APNAN, which
promote and spread Nature Farming, will begin a
new pathway from now, to spread this method
of farming to the whole world and help humanity
to lead a better and wholesome life in a clean
environment.
I wish APNAN the very best for its future
endeavors in spreading Nature Farming to
humankind.
Japan
and
Thailand. The
success
and
prosperity of this
network has been
achieved due to
the efforts of
many who have
been associated
with the network
from its humble
beginnings in
1989, its staff and
all the people in the countries affiliated with the
Network and its activities. I express my gratitude
to all of them and share my pleasure to greet them
on this momentous occasion.
APNAN has achieved significant success in Nature
Farming and environmental purification with the
use of EM. When the current situation of our
world, which is full of problems, is taken into
consideration, there is no doubt that APNAN will
need to play a greater and much more significant
role in overcoming these problems. We thus
should think of this year as the second beginning
of our project and take a vigorous step forward,
taking this 20th anniversary as the source of
motivation.
Modern societies are now at a turning point,
where we its incumbents are forced to pay greater
attention to nature and its components, rather than
to economic systems, which lays emphasis on
materialism and consumerism. Hence, we have
to retrieve the natural way of living, by converting
the conventional chemical methods of producing
food to the natural way of farming – i.e. Nature
Farming as advocated by Mokichi Okada.
This must be done with a positive attitude as done
by our ancestors who were very successful in
producing abundant food of good quality.
Thus, I wish this little network the very best for
its future and state our willing of our organization
to support its activities in the best possible way.
Congratulations APNAN – you have done us
proud and we look forward to a greater and
brighter future.
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE FROM REV.
KIYOSHI AMANO
Chairman, Board of Directors, International
Nature Farming Research Center, Atami,
Japan
It is twenty years since the Asia Pacific Natural
Agriculture Network (APNAN) has been
established – with the support of the organization
which I head and that of Sekai Kyusei Kyo of
7
A MESSAGE FROM REV. DAIHO
KASAHARA, PRESIDENT, SEKAI KYUSEI
KYO, THAILAND
I send this congratulatory message on the
occasion of the
20th anniversary
of the Asia Pacific
N a t u r a l
Agriculture
Network, with
which the Sekai
Kyusei Kyo of
Thailand and I
have
been
associated from
its inception. The
idea of a new
civilization for the
21st century, advocated by Mokichi Okada in the
20th century has been applied to various field of
life including religion, politics, economics, medical
sciences, education, art and agriculture, as well
as mental and spiritual evolution and development.
The outstanding concepts and ideas of Mokichi
Okada have been making significant contributions
to the construction and development of an ideal
society, which is complete with peace and
happiness. APNA N has worked towards this
objective and we at the Headquarters of Sekai
Kyusei Kyo in Thailand, have a very high respect
for the activities of this network, due to its plans,
mode of activity and developing systems aiming
at environmental protection and sufficient supply
of safe food, based on the idea of safe and healthy
life, as advocated by the great philosopher,
Mokichi Okada. Hence, the network is doing a
service to humanity and we will offer our fullest
support and cooperation to help the activities of
this modest network in cooperation with all those
who share the wish that APNAN should prosper
to work for the welfare of humanity in the future
years.
MESSAGE FROM KATSUYUKI ASATO,
PRESIDENT,
EM
RESEARCH
ORGANIZATION, OKINAWA, JAPAN
I offer the sincere and heartfelt congratulations
of EM Research
Organization
and myself, on
the occasion of
the
20th
anniversary of
APNAN.
I
cordially thank
all those who
have supported
this organization
from
its
inception, to
bring it to its present status.
Today over 35% of the EM supplied all over the
world is manufactured in the Asia Pacific region,
which is the mandate area for APNAN. The
advanced activities taking place has become a
model for other regions as it is working a driving
force behind the spread of EM Technology on a
global scale. Today, due to the activities of
APNAN, EM is not only used in the field of
agriculture and environmental remediation, but in
many other fields. Among these, the use of EM
Technology in day-to-day sanitation and food
processing are clear examples of the effectiveness
of APNAN’s activities. Moreover, there are many
models of effective cost control and activation
by using EM in Governmental organizations, NonGovernmental programs, educational institutions,
private sector organizations and local governing
authorities.
As the incumbent President of the EM Research
Organization, I do pledge that our organization
will continue to bolster the support for research,
development and promotion of EM, while fulfilling
the responsibility of providing a stable supply of
high quality EM through APNAN and its
cooperation with partners of the contact nations.
On behalf of EMRO, I wish APNAN many more
years of successful operations and pledge our
support and sponsorship to this humble and little
network, which is showing the way of effective
networking through cooperation, consensus and
coordination.
8
(APNAN) as stated by the pledge were :- To lead
to eliminating dependence on synthetic agricultural
chemicals, To be based on local agro ecological
conditions, To assist small farmers to enhance
incomes and To lead to self reliance on the part
of farmers in a sustainable agricultural system.
The network elected Prof. Dr. Teruo Higa as the
president, with Associate Professor. Dr. Chaitat
Pairintra of Thailand as its Coordinator, Dr. Tahir
Hussain of Pakistan as Co-coordinator and Dr.
J.F. Parr and S. Hornick of the USA and Dr. T.
Santawisuk of Thailand as technical advisors.
The headquarters of the network was based in
Bangkok, in a cozy alley of the up market suburb,
at 1/4 St Louis Soi 2, Sathorn Road, Bangkok
10120. This was the hub and the office located
in an apartment served as a place where members
could rest when in Bangkok and was managed
by the Coordinator. The work of the network as
originally envisaged was to disseminate
information of Nature Farming and EM
Technology on the basis of research and
developments by members and associates,
coordinate activities related to holding meetings
and workshops, and maintain dialogue with
members through a newsletter.
The conference ended with the founding of
APNAN, which was a landmark event for both
the INFRC and the Sekai Kyusei Kyo of Japan
and Thailand. The participants then traveled by
bus – to Sara Buri, en route to Bangkok, to visit
the Sara Buri Nature Farm, which was just being
initiated by the Sekai Kyusei Kyo. Thereafter it
was to Bangkok, to stay in 5 star comfort at the
Central Plaza Hotel, and be entertained to Thai
hospitality by the Sekai Kyusei Kyo at their
headquarters in Sapankhwai and for all members
to receive 4 liters of EM 1 with a recipe to make
the real EM 4 (as it was then called) through a
process of fermentation.
It is with affection and humor that this event is
recalled after 20 years. The EM given at that time
was left behind by many, whose nations are now
major users of the technology and promoting
Nature Farming!! However the important thing
was the establishment of APNAN, initially for 5
years to test the usefulness of EM. Today after
20 years, we are still here, more active than ever!!
THIS WAS THE BEGINNING OF AN
INTERESTING JOURNEY WITHIN A SMALL
NETWORK!!
ONCE UPON A TIME …………….
1989 ….. October 17 – 21 – this is when it all
began!!!
In the city of Khon Kaen in Northeastern Thailand,
a gathering took place at the Khon Kaen Hotel –
of scientists from 13 nations, to hear of Kyusei
Nature Farming and EM Technology at the First
Farming. The concepts of Nature Farming were
Prof. Higa speaks at the conference
advocated by Mokichi Okada in the 1930’s as a
possible solution to overcome the potential
problems of intensive chemical farming, and EM
Technology, developed in Okinawa by Professor
Dr. Teruo Higa of the University of the Ryukyus,
to enhance the efficacy of Nature Farming.
It was a gathering of great and not so great minds.
Heavyweights, such as those from the United
States Department of Agriculture, the Agricultural
University of Faisalabad, Universiti Pertanian,
Malaysia, Khon Kaen University, Thailand and the
Haryana Agricultural University of India were all
there with smaller fry from other nations. The
participants presented activities on organic
farming in their nations, and discussed the
usefulness of Nature Farming and EM in their
respective environments.
The participants discussed the prospects in three
technical committees and on 21st October 1989,
a network was created (as stated in the first
newsletter dated January – April, 1990), with the
financial support of the International Nature
Farming Research Center (INFRC) of Atami,
Japan. The founding members were from 13
nations – within the mandate region from Pakistan,
moving east via India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,
Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, onto
Philippines, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and ending up
with the USA. The objectives of the Network,
named Asia Pacific Natural Agriculture Network
9
THE NETWORK DEVELOPS…
APNAN started off with a Bang!! The first
objectives were to test the feasibility of adopting
Nature Farming and the efficacy in the 13 member
nations and funds for this were provided by
The progress was discussed and many new
avenues of development were planned. 1991 was
also a year of developments where the Ministry
of Education in Myanmar developed an action plan
to research and expand Nature Farming and EM.
The only lady member of the steering committee
Dr. Cho Cho Myint who was at the Agricultural
University at Yezin initiated this project cooperation
of the then Minister of Education. This was the
first agreement that was drawn up between
APNAN, INFRC and a foreign government to test
and promote Nature Farming and EM.
While developments were taking place in the
respective regions, APNAN was active in
supporting international activities of INFRC,
which was our principal sponsor. We moved our
office to Thaninthorn Village in Rangsit, Bangkok,
within 10 minutes from the Don Muang Airport,
in late 1992. In fact, we could see planes landing
– when VIPs were traveling into Bangkok, we
would leave the office to meet them when the
aircraft was arriving into the runway!!!!
In terms of management, Steering Committee
meetings were held in Brazil in 1991 and in Sri
Lanka in 1992. In terms of our projects, research
was being developed in Pakistan with the
establishment of the Nature Farming Research
Center at the Faisalabad University and the
Indonesian Kyusei Nature Farming Society in Bali.
New countries such as Vietnam and Nepal were
joining in.
The network
organized EM
Technology
conferences
in Thailand
for middle
order staff of
the respective
The meeting in Sri
countries,
Lanka
and played an
active part in presenting papers at many
international forums. However it was the Third
Farming, held in Santa Barbara, USA in 1993 saw
signs of change within the network.
The network had an EM Technology Conference
in 1993 in Sara Buri and thereafter the whole
structure underwent a significant overhaul – when
the coordinator Dr. Chaitat Pairintra decided to
retire from active service to the network.
APNAN members in Atami
INFRC, with the generous contribution and
assistance from the Sekai Kyusei Kyo Izunome
of Japan. The first meeting of the steering
committee was held in Atami, Japan in 1990, to
coincide with the Osaka flower show. At this
meeting, the plans for research were drawn up
and work initiated with enthusiasm.
Changes were already happening within the
network and its steering committee even before
we completed one year!!!
Our colleague from the Philippines dropped out
claiming the lack of financial benefits!!! It was
fun to observe eminent scientists clamoring for
greater share of funds from a volunteer
organization, to which they pledged support only
7 months earlier!! However, the work progressed
and the first opportunity for presenting some work
came in 1991, when the Second International
Kyusei Nature Farming Conference was held in
Brazil at the
University of
São Paulo,
Piracicaba
and organized
by the Sekai
Kyusei Kyo of
Brazil. This
Steering Committee in
was the first
Malaysia
occasion that
coordinated work was discussed, although some
members of APNAN could not attend because of
Visa problems.
The second steering committee meeting was also
held in Kuala Lumpur in 1991, hosted by our
member based at the Universiti Pertanian Malaysia.
10
This change saw the shift in office, back to
Bangkok, to Sapankhwai, to a newly constructed
apartment – our home in Kularb Apartments,
which also had living quarters, in December 1993.
We took the entire 8th floor of the apartment, where
the office was located in room 802, and living
quarters in the other 4 rooms. It is often recalled
with affection that the first night in Kularb was
spent on a tatami mat on the floor just in one
room, with a heap of furniture and a small fan to
keep the only occupant company!! The network
had no phone, no computer or faxes and most
importantly, no staff!!! It was to be managed by
a part time volunteer worker, who had to fly in
for 3 hours from a nation nearby! These were
trying times – we were totally dependant on the
generosity and assistance of the Sekai Kyusei Kyo
of Thailand. We were wondering if we could
sustain the efforts and activities in this haphazard
manner – but the support and encouragement
were received from the INFRC, and especially
from the late Rev. Kazuo Wakugami, President of
Sekai Kyusei Kyo of Thailand and of course by
our dear President Professor. Dr. Higa and Madam
Higa made us go along – purely on a volunteer
basis. We had people of the caliber of Ohashi san,
who was seconded to the Thai office of Sekai
Kyusei Kyo and was from INFRC to help us. We
will never forget the long nights of discussions,
the walks back at midnight to Kularb after working
at the SKK office in Thailand, which was 15
minutes by foot – avoiding the nasty street dogs
roaming at that time!!
1994 saw further developments and consolidation
of the network. We received Mr. Masaki Shintani
as our first technical officer. Shintani san, a raw
Masters graduate from the lab of Prof. Dr Higa
came and took over APNAN. This was a relief
and he had some great ideas. This gave
encouragement – and this could be stated as the
beginning of the new APNAN!!!
In 1994, we made contacts with New Zealand
and very importantly with IFOAM, the
international body coordinating activities of organic
farming on a global scale. APNAN held its steering
committee meeting in Korea and also an EM
Technology Conference in Thailand. New nations
were joining in – such as Bhutan, Lao PDR and
Maldives and even Australia, North Korea. We
were covering the whole of Asia with the exception
of Brunei, Papua New Guinea and Cambodia!!
1994 was also a
significant year as
the EM Research
Organization was
established in
Japan – and
became a sponsor
of APNAN, as
the INFRC had
supported the
APNAN meets the Bhutanese
network for 5
Minister
years.
The
establishment of EMRO saw an influx of young
students and trainees from both INFRC and
EMRO – our sponsors to date, who entrusted
APNAN to train them in international activities, a
function that we do even today, 20 years down
the road!!
In 1995, the Fourth International Kyusei Nature
Farming Conference was held in Paris, France.
This was again a point of change – as APNAN
was entrusted to organize this. We had more
technical staff and Shintani san took over as
Senior Technical Officer. They were busy
traveling making EM in the member nations – and
The Paris Conference
our dear President, Prof. Dr. Higa, accompanied
by members from APNAN and INFRC (especially
Mr. Okubo) were busy touring the world
promoting Nature Farming through EM.
The Fourth International Kyusei Nature Farming
Conference held in Paris was one of immense
success – APNAN broke the bonds that were
restricting them releasing information, due to long
delays of publications. APNAN also got the
president of IFOAM, Mr. Herve la Prairie to chair
this conference!!! This was the seed for
consolidating and expanding Nature Farming and
EM activity in Europe –which is in the limelight
today!! The steering committee was also held at
that time and it was indeed a heated meeting - but
11
we persevered and of course, the truth and justice
won.
The last of the steering committee meetings were
held in 1996, and it was decided to disband this
as it had become defunct. APNAN was ably
managed by young Japanese graduates and the
sponsors decided that we could hold our heads
above the clouds without expensive meetings on
an annual basis. Moreover, the support extended
to us by the Sekai Kyusei Kyo of Thailand in
facilitating training on EM through International
Workshops at Sara Buri gave us the impetus to
continue and even expand our activities of
promoting Nature Farming and EM Technology
in the mandate region and even beyond.
In 1997, there was indeed a cause for alarm – the
cancellation of the Fifth International Kyusei
N a t u r e
Farming
Conference by
the Chinese
authorities!!
However
(please read
the highlights)
we did it in
Bangkok and
IFOAM President at the
it was a great
Bangkok Conference
success with
the VIPs of IFOAM attending it. Thereafter with
no EM Technology conferences and Steering
Committee meetings, we could consolidate our
real work in developing Nature Farming and EM
Technology in all its facets in the mandate region.
In 1998, after organizing the Fifth International
Conference in Bangkok in just 13 days, our bosses
– especially EMRO, decided that our office in
our home was too small!! It’s only after the job
was done that the bosses realized our potential –
and thus we moved for the third time – a location
very close – only 12 minutes walking distance to
Monririn Building -this was a spacious
comfortable place…and with much space. We
settled in quickly, but still lived in our Bangkok
home, in Kularb Apartments and literally traveled
to work – by taxi, tutk tuk, or even by foot!!
In 1999 and 2002, we arranged the International
Kyusei Nature Farming Conferences in Pretoria,
South Africa and Christchurch, New Zealand, all
of which were really successful and people
participated in greater numbers. What was more
The South African Conference
The delegates at the New Zealand Conference
important was to get the Proceedings out – again
edited by us in a shorter time and not wait for
four years as in the past, when it was done by
real professionals at much greater cost. We
succeeded in getting the Proceedings indexed in
International databases, again disseminating the
information to the worldwide audiences.
After 2002, when all the international conferences
were over, it was our mandate to disseminate
information and promote Nature Farming and EM
in the mandate region, which has expanded
beyond our dreams. The demand was rising for
EM and technical help and we had to do all this
within declining budgets!!
The first step to reduce the budget was the
relocation of the office back to Kularb
Apartments, where we are based!! However it
was not to Room 802 – but to a larger space in
Room 210. Many were pleased about this shift
back – Kularb Apartments was and is our home
and it is so nice to have the office at home!! From
this venue we worked diligently we were
successful in putting out this newsletter in time –
which was awaited by many. Our training
workshops at the Sara Buri Center was and is in
great demand – we are doing our job! This is
networking and doing it like EM – Efficient
12
Management!! This is APNAN and its
developments over the last 20 years!!
It is often stated that Time and Tide waits for no
person – man, women or animal!! There is a
common adage that time causes changes!! This
is true of APNAN as well. Over the years, we
have refined ourselves – and we continue to do
our job at the least possible cost, and in most
occasions on a volunteer basis, where only the
basic costs are met – and no profit is taken. Our
initial contacts have gone expect for three or four,
but newer and more efficient contacts have taken
over to run our programs. Some nations, even
founding members have limited programs much
to our sorrow as much time and even funds were
spent on these nations. However we do not look
back - we are still continuing to make headway.
One important aspect that we have seen over the
20 years is that the less money we spend on a
nation – the more successful it is!!
This is self-reliance and our partners in those
nations are doing really great – going to places
with EM and Nature Farming and also expanding
the uses of EM into hitherto unheard areas such
as cosmetics!! Our sponsors support us and
within the office in Room 210 in Kularb
Apartments, tucked in a small alleyway in
Sapankwai of Bangkok, we do our work. We have
made friends all over the world – we are
welcomed in all continents and we do our job
well. These
and many
more, which
would make
a news book
and not a
n e w s l e t t e r,
could tell all
our
dear
friends are
The hardworking APNAN staff
readers about
us!! We are happy where we are – and will strive
to do better than before – and we look forward
with anticipation and happiness to the future. This
is APNAN, the little network for Nature Farming
and EM Technology!!!
the exception of Brunei Darussalam – The first
nation to join us – the lucky 13 was China,
followed by countries such as Nepal, Vietnam,
Lao PDR, New Zealand, Maldives, Bhutan,
Australia, and Cambodia. Thus we have covered
all of Asia, and the two most important nations of
Oceania. We are left with the islands, although
we know that EM is sent to the island nations
such as Fiji and Samoa. Hence we really spread
our wings to the mandate region.
The important events however were the facts of
our winging to other regions as well. In 1994,
APNAN President, Prof. Dr. Teruo Higa along
with Mr. Okubo, our long time liaison officer from
INFRC and an insignificant member of APNAN
stopped by in Singapore to present EM as a
technology for the 21st century, at a conference
organized by the Commonwealth Agricultural
Bureau. It was at this meeting, the first contact
was made to EARTH University of Costa Rica,
where EM is now a household word and is a part
of the curriculum in this prestigious university
teaching sustainable agriculture to the Latin
America and now to students of other regions as
well. The contact made with Professor. Dr.
Panfilo Tabora, who also attended the conference
in Singapore to learn of new technologies for the
21st century, often tells us – this is the most
important technology that we learnt at this
conference and we are using it daily!! APNAN
even sent the first professor on EM to EARTH
University – our first Senior Technical Officer,
Masaki Shintani was sent by our president to
EARTH University to teach and help spread EM
and Nature Farming in the region!! The programs
begun at the EARTH University has expanded in
both Central and Latin America, and alumni
organize EM events in the region – All by this
seed planted by this little network.
Taking on even the great Nation of America was
a task for APNAN. The Third International Kyusei
Nature Farming Conference, which was
organized for our sponsors, the INFRC, by
scientists of the United States Department of
Agriculture did virtually nothing to spread the
news – However it was our ex first Senior
Technical Officer who moved from Costa Rica
to Tucson Arizona USA, founded EMRO USA
and on the lines of APNAN initiated the EM
Technology Network. A member of APNAN was
placed on the advisory board and all meetings and
WE SPREAD OUR WINGS…
APNAN, the little network started off in 1989
with small beginnings – and 13 members… With
time, we gathered all nations in the region – with
13
seminars forced this member from Asia to travel
many miles to present the scientific basis of EM
in the international arena of farming and
environment. Even today APNAN acts in an
advisory capacity to EM America and EMRO USA,
which is headed by our ex boss Takashi Kyan,
who was trained by us to become a buxom capable
leader from a thin shy junior officer just in five
years!!!
We did not rest our tired wings – but went further.
The Nature Farming and EM programs in Europe
were small affairs managed within very small
discrete communities, by friends from Brazil. EM
was taken as far back as 1992 and 1993 to Europe
with many contacts. However it was in 1995,
with APNAN holding a really true Nature Farming
and EM conference in Paris, with the President
of IFOAM as the chair and attended by many
European nations that the projects really got off
the ground. It is remembered with nostalgia and
hilarity, the pressure APNAN has from advisors
located in the US to hold an organic conference
in Paris!! We resisted and won – and today after
this conference EM is growing in Europe. We
take pride in stating this.
After all this, there was only one continent left –
that of Africa – and this little network did not
leave that either!!!! The first contact from the
great continent was from Egypt via the Honorable
Under Secretary of State for Afforestation,
Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation,
Dr. Mamdouh Riad. The EM program got
underway in 1997, and again APNAN had to go
to initiate the projects. On one occasion, the
problems between
the Ministry and the
staff sent by EMRO,
our sponsors could
not be settled and it
was APNAN that had
to fly to smoothen
the ruffled feathers
and to prevent
clashes! Thereafter, it
was the conference
in South Africa that
promoted EM and
APNAN in Egypt
Nature Farming,
again organized by
us. Today it is with pride that we state – that the
largest tomato farm in South Africa is using
principles of Nature Farming and EM Technology
– due to our efforts and in case of problems.. It
is a small member of this little network who is
contacted for advice!! Thus we have spread our
wings to all parts of the globe –covering all
continents – and we are left only with the Arctic
and Antarctic regions where no crops really
grow!!! May be with global warming and melting
of ice caps and land surfacing – when agriculture
would begin in these regions some day (Hope
not!!) we will move into these regions as well!!!
Are we proud of our achievements – that we
have taken the message of Nature Farming as
advocated by Mokichi Okada, through EM
Technology to the world, as was our mandate?
Yes we are but we are modest, as taught by our
great mentor, the late Rev. Kazuo Wakugami. It is
remembered with nostalgia the advice given to
three officers of APNAN, who paid a courtesy
call to this great benevolent person in his office,
to thank him, his able assistant and present
President of SKK in
Thailand, Rev Daiho
Kasahara and the
members of the
organization, for the
tremendous support
provided to us to
arrange the Fifth
Rev. Wakugami with
International
APNAN President
Conference in 13
days in 1997. His words were, you few people
have achieved the unachievable – you have saved
the name of Mokichi Okada, and Nature Farming
and EM – You have done your sponsors proud –
But please never boast of it – do not proclaim
that you have achieved the virtually impossible at
a lower cost than estimated. – What you must do
is to let people realize what you have done and
appreciate it – this is humility and greatness. We
often recall this advice given to us by this great
person – and revere his memory all the time.
This is the little network – we have done our job
and more importantly, are proud and modest of
these developments. Many a time it is stated by
our ex bosses that we should move from our
present office to more plush places – in Bangkok
to enable us receive guests with pride. However
we resist these offers continuously – as being in
our office in Kularb, where we live enables us to
burn the midnight oil, and even when tired go
14
upstairs to relax, and order the imported cook to
prepare meals for us – as it has happened over
the last 14 years !! This is efficient management
of resources and we are doing the job we were
asked to do without a fuss and in modesty,
although we grumble a bit at times!!!
A dormant bird is of no value and self centered
knowledge and technology serves no human. We
are just the opposite – in that we have flown across
all continents on this earth – and we have spread
the message of Nature Farming advocated by
Mokichi Okada to all continents and that of EM
Technology. We have assisted projects in all
continents and we have helped develop many
secondary products for human welfare – all to
provide a better place to humankind. We have
trained people in Nature Farming and EM – using
the paradise on Earth – The Sara Buri Nature
Farming Center, managed by Sekai Kyusei Kyo
of Thailand. Thus the bird APNAN – is really
flying - spreading its wings.
We are contented and do the tired wings need a
rest? We do not think so – all our travels to
promote Nature Farming and EM to distant
places, at times under very difficult
greater scale in the future. This is APNAN – The
little network in Bangkok, which is entrusted with
a major challenge to help humans overcome the
problems of food and environment that face
humankind.
THE GLORIES OF OUR 20 YEARS
Modesty is good – vanity is never a trait of great
personalities!!! We often quote this because this
concept has been inculcated by the great men
who have mentored us – If we wish to recall
some names, those that come to the limelight are
the late Rev. Yasushi Matsumoto, the ex President
of Sekai Kyusei Kyo, The current incumbent and
great personality, Rev. Tetsuo Watanabe, who,
on meeting APNAN a few years ago, stated – yes
you have done good work and let people appreciate
it ; the late Rev. Kazuo Wakugami and the present
President of SKK Thailand, Rev. Daiho Kasahara,
the ex Chairman of the Board of Directors, Rev.
Setsunori Shinoda, the current incumbent, the
genial Rev. Kiyoshi Amano, and even our President
and Madam Higa and the senior officials of Sekai
Kyusei Kyo of Japan and Thailand, INFRC and
the EM Research Organization. They all have
stated that humility is a virtue and never to forget
it!!!
However when we celebrate 20 years of existence
(who thought that was possible??) it is with this
humility and modesty that we recall some of our
glories – what we have attained. The first we feel
is getting rid of dead wood – people who have
worked for APNAN purely from a selfish nature
and tried to use these non-profit organizations
for personal gains. This took a lot of time and
convincing, but we did it and streamlined the
process of working in harmony and cooperation.
This is one key to our success – although it was
a difficult process amidst death threats at times!!
APNAN is a training ground for young Japanese
guys and girls – who will in the future venture
out, serving humanity through Nature Farming
and EM. Thus over 21 young Japanese have
walked the corridors of APNAN over the last 20
years either for long or short periods of time.
The sponsors expected APNAN to train them in
international activities, to assert themselves and
be useful to humankind in an independent manner.
Over the years, the network looks back with pride
of the colleagues. Today in INFRC and Sekai
Kyusei Kyo, they hold responsible positions
Intensive Nature Farming at Sara Buri
circumstances are taken as free holidays!! We
get to sample different food, experience different
cultures and meet different personalities,
sometimes Ministers of Government, Heads of
Departments and even poor farmers – at no cost
to us! What better way of doing a good job and
duty? If you read the newsletters that are prepared
once in 4 months, you would read of the
progresses we have made and at times some
experiences are hilarious! We have taken all these
into consideration – and we do assure you – all
our friends and sponsors that we will spread our
wings effectively and with confidence on a
15
a poster at the IFOAM Scientific Congress in
Santa Cruz, California. His second poster was in
1989 in Burkina Faso – where a link was forged,
that has grown from strength to strength over
the last 21 years. In 1990 it was a poster again in
Hungary, but the real breakthrough came in 1992,
at the IFOAM conference in Brazil, where a paper
on Nature Farming and EM was first presented
at the conference with Professor. Higa on stage
as coauthor. This was the first time an oral
presentation was made on Nature Farming and
EM. It was also a good omen – where it was the
first paper of the conference assembly – thus it
was a full audience!! Thereafter every conference
has papers on EM – in New Zealand the first
session on Nature Farming and EM was held,
amidst a very volatile crowd!! APNAN braved
the way and we succeeded that we have a real
technology. This was the case in Argentina,
Denmark, Canada and Switzerland and Australia.
It was heartening to note over the years the
audiences grew for the papers on EM and Nature
Farming, while the critics and skeptics became
less and less!!!! One highlight was in 2008 in
Modena, Italy, where the scientific basis for
Nature Farming was presented at the IFOAM/
ISOFAR Conference – again by APNAN!! Thus
we have made our mark with Nature Farming
and EM Technology in the world’s body on
organics!!
In the 1990s, APNAN developed very close links
with the IFOAM Board – where two IFOAM
Presidents Herve la Prairie and Linda Bullard were
both our guests. They appreciated what we were
doing – and held us in the highest esteem to
cooperate and work diligently. This was an asset
– and unfortunately, this bohemia is now lacking
–
this
is
something we
need
to
rectify!
This
little
network did
not rest on its
laurels
by Forging ties - IFOAM and APNAN
working with
IFOAM. The Proceedings of the International
Kyusei Nature Farming Conferences were cited
on the Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau
Abstract indexing service, beginning from the
Fourth Conference. Today, even in the most
APNAN bosses at the IDB Meeting
promoting Nature Farming. Good examples of
these are Hiroyasu Ohashi and Nobuyuki Taniki,
who are in the certification office of INFRC and
Kosaburo Imamura, an excellent researcher at the
EM Laboratory. Our dear friend Masanobu
Sakurai is deputy head of the Sara Buri Training
Center and thus helps us immensely during the
workshops and with visitors to this paradise on
earth.
In EMRO one is now a fully-fledged Doctor of
Philosophy. Dr. Masaki Shintani, who left us to
teach at EARTH University, moved on to establish,
manage and consolidate EMRO USA and finally
ended up in the company he loves – that of ladies
to read for his Doctoral Degree at the Tokyo
Women’s Medical University!! Today, he heads
the Research Department at EMRO and serves
on the Board of Directors. The two Takashis Kyan
and Shimoji hold very responsible positions in
EMRO – The duo always worked together – and
while Kyan Takashi is Head of Administration and
Overseas, his able assistant is Shimoji Takashi!!
At present, we still perform this task well and we
have five members - all working in harmony. It is
not that there were and are no clashes of
personality!!! There were instances of litigation!!
However all these minor problems were solved
in the usual friendly manner at our home in Kularb
and we are doing great – this is one of our greatest
glories - to see our old colleagues doing well.
The international links that APNAN has forged,
bringing Nature Farming and EM to the
international scene is also one of our real
successes!! EM and Nature Farming were
presented to the organic forums of IFOAM as
far back as in 1986, with our president presenting
16
searched citation index, the Web of Knowledge,
there are a large number of citations on EM and
Nature Farming from different regions – all
inspired by the work of this little network. As
stated earlier, we planted the seeds of Nature
Farming and EM in all continents and thus we
are really networking – on a low-key budget in a
very modest way.
Working with Governments is not easy – and in
some nations virtually impossible! However we
have broken these barriers. We formulated
agreements with the countries such as the Union
of Myanmar, Vietnam, Lao PDR, and the Royal
Government of Bhutan and very importantly even
organized a conference in the Democratic Peoples
Republic of Korea!! All were done successfully
The Conference in BKK
of Kyusei Nature Farming – especially as IFOAM
President and Vice President were also coming
to it as an invited guest!!! This was an
achievement - no easy feat – and we at APNAN
thank all the young staff of INFRC and EMRO
who gave us a helping hand – especially Takashi
Kyan and Aki Fujisawa who managed the whole
thing so well. It was also a very important event,
in that during the late nights at the printery, where
staff were working 24 hours without sleep,
developing the new book of abstracts, that a new
street restaurant was identified – that serves the
best Thai food in Bangkok – and even today, after
12 long years, we at APNAN patronize it on a
regular basis!! Looking back over the past 20
years – we can be proud of our achievements –
all done in the face of declining budgets, human
APNAN meets Vietnamese VIPs
on behalf of our sponsors – INFRC and EMRO –
We have developed links with organizations and
individuals in all member nations and work closely
with all of them – this again is a highlight of our
work over the last 20 years!!
The highlight of our glory we think is the Fifth
International Kyusei Nature Farming Conference
held in Thailand. It was planned for China – but
14 days prior to the conference, the sponsors,
the INFRC was informed of its cancellation. We
at APNAN pulled our socks up – and with the
open support of the Sekai Kyusei Kyo of Thailand
and its President and Vice President, Rev. Kazuo
Wakugami and Rev. Daiho Kasahara, we did it! It
was done from our little office in Kularb, with no
copier, two computers, one printer and one fax
machine. Our president did not give us even a
copier. Midnight oil was burnt, sleepless nights
were aplenty over those 13 days and we did it –
and everyone was so pleased that it was held on
schedule – saving the face of INFRC, EMRO and
The APNAN Street Resturant
power cuts. Although we are modest and do not
want recognition in a glorified way – we can
really be proud that we have exceeded our
mandate to work and the region –
IN SHORT, WE CAN SAY THAT WE HAVE
BEEN OVER 75% RESPONSIBLE FOR
SPREADING THE CONCEPT OF NATURE
FARMING AS ADVOCATED BY MOKICHI
OKADA AND TO A GREATER EXTENT THE
TECHNOLOGY
OF
EFFECTIVE
MICROORGANISMS GLOBALLY!! THIS IS
OUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT!!
17
OUR ACTIVITIES….
At the end of 20 years of hard work all done
happily, with a smile on our faces and with
complaints. In addition, mostly on a volunteer
basis, one tends to ask – Are you taking a break???
NO WAY – as our dear friends down under say!!
We at present do many things – we promote
Nature Farming and EM Technology in a big way
in the region and beyond – even in other continents
– Our staff fly to make EM in different regions
and generally all problems related to Nature
Farming and EM finally end up on our lap!! We
help solve them with a smile on our faces!! We
make EM in over 20 nations all over the world
and train people from all walks of life at the Sara
Buri Nature Farming Training Center!! We run
international
workshops
on Nature
Farming,
advice
farmers in
our home
nation in
Thailand
and in the
region –
A workshop in session
and we do
prepare this newsletter – which is eagerly awaited
by the readers on time!! We have developed a
manual on EM and Nature Farming and at present
are updating it!! We managed scholarship
programs for our sponsors to train students from
Myanmar for a Ph D and Bachelors degrees from
the Karasin Campus of the Rajamangala University
of Bangkok. We have funded the World food prize
in Bhutan for several years – all to foster education
among the future generations.
We have started a demonstration block on Nature
Farming in Sara Buri and we have a website! The
newsletter is on line and we do all the work that
is passed onto us by our sponsors EMRO and
INFRC! Thus we are still active and although the
burden of organizing conferences is removed, we
are actively participating at International Forums
to present Nature Farming and EM Technology.
With all these we are indeed a busy lot!
Our work takes us to many nations – and this
takes time and can tell on the health of the young
staff – who live in Bangkok, away from their
parents and families. However we are all happy
APNAN's demonstration plot
and we are pleased to inform our sponsors,
colleagues, contacts and friends –
APNAN IS ALIVE AND KICKING!! IT IS
REARING TO MOVE FORWARD AND THUS
PLEASE KEEP US MOTIVATED BY
CONTACTING US – WE WILL HELP
ALWAYS!
WE LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH MUCH
CONFIDENCE!!
LOOK TO THE FUTURE
WHAT OF THE FUTURE??
The question that we ask ourselves is – have we
done our job? Have we outlived the usefulness?
Is the training we impact not needed anymore?
Is the newsletter obsolete?? Do our sponsors need
us??
Looking at what we do at the present time. The
answer to all of these is NO!! We are called upon
to do many many things as before and even
more!!! One real example is the formation of
EMRO Asia, in Thailand. This latest development
was precipitated due to the indiscreet neglect of
the EM program in the Royal Kingdom of Thailand
by one of our ardent fans. Who got everything
they could from us! We tried to help with no avail,
and today we have to help our sponsor EM
Research Organization provide EM to the masses
of the Kingdom, who have been the highest users
of the technology for many years.
We are developing new manuals, and information
blogs – we develop the newsletter generally in 48
– 72 hours and then get it out.. if not our readers
send us emails!! Thus we have to continue and
strengthen all that we are doing now – well into
the future.
The question is – are we complacent about what
we are doing and should be just carry on
18
support them and we look forward eagerly to a
bright future with a bright horizon !
Thus dear readers, we are a network – contact
us – network and work with us to promote
Nature Farming and EM to make this earth a better
place for humankind.
THE COMMENTS OF OUR BOSSES – BOTH
EX AND NOW…….
APNAN is a very fortunate organization! Over
the last 20 years, we have had six Senior Technical
Officers (including the present one) who have
guided its activities in a very successful manner.
It is known that at times they were very stressed
by the demands and responsibilities entrusted upon
them by the sponsors and by demands by our
contacts, members, friends, and even visitors,
tourists and enemies!! However, this was
considered a part of their training and today all
the five Senior Technical Officers recall with fond
memories the times at our little network. It is
interesting that all of them stayed in Kularb
Apartments from 1994 and if the walls of the
building – especially the 8th floor could talk – they
would sing out many very interesting stories!!
These are APNAN’s secrets!!!
However, we are lucky that all of them keep in
contact – although they have moved upwards in
their respective lives and hence are very pleased
and honored to publish their messages to us on
this occasion.
EMRO Headquarters
The bosses of the INFRC farm
supplying technical know-how and EM to our
contacts? Do we become the working arm of
our sponsors? We think NO!! We have much more
to do!! APNAN is a network proving information
– however – we also must promote research and
development. There are many grey areas in both
Nature Farming and EM Technology, which need
researching. Now that our ex boss Masaki Shintani
is heading the research unit at EMRO, we hope
that this need will be met. We need to cooperate
with the Agricultural Experiment Station of the
INFRC at Hata-machi, Nagano and with the EM
Laboratory at Shizuoka to provide the world with
research data that is now being called for. We
should change our emphasis to generate more
information for dissemination – and all this has to
be done soon –
It should have
been
done
yesterday – but
t o d a y ,
tomorrow and
the future is
good enough.
In
this
scenario, we
EM Lab with our ex
see our role
boss Imamura
growing – We
hope that the sponsors will support us as we
A note from Dr. Masaki Shintani, our first
Senior Technical Officer…..
Congratulations –
to APNAN on the
20th anniversary!!
I was at APNAN
as its Senior
Technical Officer
from 1994 to
1996, at a time
when Nature and
Organic Farming
were not very
popular, and the
use of EM was
rather rare. However, with perseverance and hard
work, we at APNAN explained the fundamentals
of Nature Farming and the potential of EM – and
convinced people that these really work. We held
19
but the cancellation made me panic!! However,
we had a friend and staff member who made it
possible to hold the conference in 13 days on
schedule – with all the staff of APNAN, INFRC
and EMRO working hard day and night, with
the fullest support from the Sekai Kyusei Kyo
of Thailand and under the eagle eye of this guy
who managed the organization. It was easy to
appease this guy – only a Kit Kat could make
this guy happy! The conference was a huge
success and only thing we could give this guy
was a box of Kit Kat! However, I feel that I am
very lucky to have had the opportunity to be the
Senior Technical Officer and hence could learn
many things – I am proud to call myself a
member of staff APNAN – I even got married
during this time and produced a beautiful
daughter!!
In conclusion, I wish to thank all the people who
have guided and managed our little but great
network over the last 20 years – I thank our
President, Professor. Dr. Teruo Higa and all the
sponsors of APNAN – they have given the right
guideline and shown the correct pathway.
It is my sincere hope that APNAN, the small
organization will be as efficient as ever – and
increase its efficiency further and be successful
into the distant future, doing its work in a
dignified and sure way!
workshops, seminars, and trainings and we were
successful in getting the concepts accepted. One
significant feature of our success was the
availability of the facility at Sara Buri, which was
the venue of many study tours and which helped
to promote Nature Farming and EM in the
mandate region.
It is my hope and wish that APNAN will continue
to hold workshops and provide quality
instructions to train people in Nature Farming and
EM Technology, as in the recent years, the
demand for quality and safe food is being
requested by humankind. Nature Farming and EM
are concepts that have global recognition for their
capacity to protect the environment and hence
APNAN, the small network has a significant role
to play not only in agriculture, but also in
environmental conservation, regional development
and health promotion at the present time and also
into the future.
I take this opportunity to thank all those who have
guided and helped APNAN over the last two
decades and hope that they will continue to
support this great little network into the future
years.
From the pen of Takashi Kyan, our second
Senior Technical Officer......
On behalf of the Overseas Department of EM
Research Organization, I congratulate APNAN on
its 20th anniversary, and thank all the staff of the
network for their significant cooperation to
disseminate
Nature Farming
and
EM
Technology in all
regions of the
world.
I held the post of
Senior Technical
Officer from
1996 to 2000,
during a very
turbulent time.
The
most
significant impact was the shifting of the Fifth
International Kyusei Nature Farming Conference
in Bangkok from Beijing, China in a matter of 13
days!! All arrangements were made and a group
ticket was booked to take the delegates from
Bangkok to Beijing on China Southern Airlines,
The message from Takashi Shimoji, our third
boss…
It was January
1999, when I first
arrived
in
APNAN
and
began work as
technical officer.
I learnt the
operations of this
network,
its
objectives and
aspirations from
its
senior
members and especially from its boss, Takashi
Kyan. In 2000, I took over the mantle from Mr.
Kyan who was recalled to Okinawa. The
highlights of this period were the International
Kyusei Nature Farming Conferences in South
Africa and New Zealand, and especially the
International Conference on EM Technology in
20
DPR Korea. This was indeed a very special event
in a very special nation.
During the period I headed APNAN, the network
was in transition – to make all nations independent
and self-sustaining in their Nature Farming and
EM projects. We began the system of Know How
agreements and Memorandums of Understanding
with our partner nations and members. This was
a successful operation and is still in use as it led
to strengthening the cooperation in an independent
and self-reliance. Although our English was poor,
being young Japanese, there was help at hand
through a silent member of the network, who
was always there to give a helping hand.
I learnt a lot from APNAN and gave my best. I
wish that it keeps and more importantly will
improve its operations and maintain the
momentum it has generated in the world of Nature
Farming and EM Technology. To me it has done
wonders – even like my previous boss at APNAN,
I settled down with my long-standing girlfriend
to a healthy married life.
I wish APNAN – the great little network – all
success.
will always remember the trips we made to
different nations with our silent member, who
taught us many things – both in work and in life!!
It is my hope and prayer that APNAN will continue
its activities much more successfully and
vigorously to promote Nature Farming and EM
Technology – The world needs it and APNAN is
now experienced to do it. I look forward to the
day when APNAN becomes a household word in
the mandate region and beyond, through the
promotion of Nature Farming and EM
Technology.
Kosaburo Imamura – the fifth Senior
Technical Officer says………
APNAN, the little network is a powerful
organization,
doing a service
to humanity –
and I was
privileged to
head it from
2005 until the
end of 2006. I
strongly believed
that APNAN had
an important
role in the Asia
Pacific region –
although the International Conferences were over,
the workshops we held gathered people in greater
numbers and thus we at APNAN promoted Nature
Farming and EM in a significant manner.
One feature that I had to content with during my
tenure was to manage the budget, which was
diminishing at an alarming rate. We moved back
to our old office from Monririn to Kularb, we
stabilized a system of maintaining the quality of
EM and for the first time organized a Dealers
meeting in Bangkok, Thailand in 2006. These were
highlights. It was also during my time that a kitchen
laboratory was developed to initiate methods of
stabilizing EM – and the smells that came out of
room 801 in Kularb was not a problem as we
were on the top most floor – and any bad smell
could be attributed to the terrible cooking of our
visiting cook!!
I have gained a lot from APNAN – the experiences
and the people – and this was a highlight of this
network – the contacts it had. I wish it well and
hope that it will continue well into the next 20 or
Words from Nobuyuki Taniki, our fourth
Boss…
Congratulations
APNAN – On
your
20th
anniversary!
I am very happy
to hear of the
success
that
APNAN has had,
and its plans for
celebrating 20
years of fruitful
work to humanity
through
the
promotion of
Nature Farming and EM Technology. I took over
the position of senior technical officer in 2003
from my dear friend and boss Takashi Shimoji,
who guided the network for three years. During
my stay in APNAN, which was over 6 years, I
saw the potential and worked towards its success.
I strongly feel that we at APNAN were very
successful – much more than what was expected
of us. This was a privilege – to be associated
with this great network, especially at its boss. I
21
more years, serving humanity of the world
through the promotion of Nature Farming and
EM Technology
STAFF OF THE GREAT LITTLE
NETWORK…………………….
APNAN is identified as a training ground to the
young Japanese staff – both in techniques, work
ethics, leadership, international relations,
cooperation, and co-existence and even in life –
in all its forms and fascinations! Thus, many have
walked through the corridors of Kularb Apartments
helping us with our activities for different periods
of time. Thus, it is with profound gratitude that
we list them – all of them were from Japan who
were trained by us and more importantly assisted
us to do our job successfully and efficiently and
were assisted by three Thai ladies.
The officers who were with us for different
durations of times are as follows:
From International Nature Farming Research
Center, Atami…
Takahiro Hayakawa, Hiroyasu Ohashi,, Tomoaki
Kobayashi, Junya Sakai, Masanobu Sakurai,
Nobuyuki Taniki, Kosaburo Imamura
The present boss - Jun Matsumoto
states………..
As APNAN marks its 20th year, I am privileged to
head it as its sixth senior technical officer. Today,
we are in the process of consolidating Nature
Farming and EM
in the region and
expanding our
activities.
Although we do
not
organize
International
Conferences, we
do coordinate
information and
do our best to
spread it around
to all interested.
We continue to
hold International workshops and also trainings
and guide visitors to Sara Buri, the paradise on
earth. We do help our poorer members to develop
and sustain themselves and very importantly hold
meetings with our dealers and counterparts to
maintain EM quality, develop Nature Farming units
and even at times mediate to stop infighting for
EM!!
We are well aware that it is our mandate to help
the poor farmers in the region, which holds the
most number of people per unit of land – and
also to improve the environments through Nature
Farming and EM Technology. It is our mandate
to maintain quality and also assist innovative
processes being developed by our partners to
make EM available in numerous ways through
the developments of new products. The holding
of the dealers meeting and exhibition in 2008
proved to be successful in exchanging ideas –
and we are proud of our achievements.
At the time of celebrating 20 years – I as the
present Senior Technical Officer am hopeful that
we can achieve our goals. I thank all those who
guide and help us and we look forward to greater
cooperation in the future years. I also thank my
colleagues and mentors and hope for better
cooperation and guidance to achieve the objectives
of this great little network.
From EM Research Organization, Okinawa….
Masaki Shintani, Yoshiro Nagado, Takashi
Kyan, Aya Okuda, Aki Fujisawa, Masahiko
Gondo, Takashi Shimoji, Shoji Kanda, Shinji
Takara, Keefe Uehara
From Thailand…
Ms.Somlaksana Pongdit and Ms.Lalita
Kaewmanee
At present – the staff are –
Jun Matsumoto (EMRO), Koki Nagamine
(INFRC), Yujiro Sano (INFRC), Toru Koshoji
(EMRO), Yasushi Nishibuchi (EMRO) and Ms.
Siriporn Silpakul (Thailand)
APNAN after 20 years!
WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR WORK AND
CONTINUED CONTACT AND SUPPORT.
22
COMMENTS BY OUR FRIENDS AND
COLLEAGUES
APNAN over the last 20 years have made many
friends and contacts and in developing this
newsletter, we requested some of our oldest and
dynamic friends to send messages – and we are
pleased to state some of them here.
made natural
agriculture grow
to its present
importance and
has contributed to
new hopes for
sustainable
agriculture
around the world.
We have had our
faculty,
our
students (now
graduates) and
our administrators experience the work of APNAN
with the farmers, researchers and agriculture
professionals and we too have made natural
agriculture a part of our lives here in Central and
South America where our graduates continue to
spread this experience.
With the EM Technology that APNAN has showed
us, we have had great strides in sustainable banana
and pineapple production technologies and in the
revival of lakes and rivers important to many
producers and residents of the growing sites and
also of these large bodies of water. We plan to
keep showing to more people the great merits of
natural agriculture and to many countries where
our students and graduates have influence.
20 years of APNAN seems like it was just
yesterday and while many things have been
accomplished, we still see many more things that
it can do in the next 20 years. We salute APNAN
for the work well done and we express our
fervent hopes for many more years and much
more work that needs to be done that only APNAN
can do!
Dr. Panfilo Tabora
Professor, EARTH University
Costa Rica
A note from a founding member – the only
lady member of our ex steering committee…..
Since its inception in 1989, I have, with great
interest, watched
the baby APNAN
growing up into
its adulthood over
the last 20 years.
I am very proud
of this network
“APNAN” for
lasting that long,
and contributing a
great deal through
the provision of
environmentally
sound technologies, and rendering its assistance
financial or otherwise for the good of the farming
populace in a number of countries around the
globe. As one of its founding members, I cannot
help but have the greatest pleasure to see it
standing firmly on its own feet and heading on its
way to achieve its noble objectives of making this
world a better and cleaner place to live and
producing healthy food for the mankind. Those
of you, who so ever have made all these happen,
deserve our special appreciation.
I would now like to take this opportunity of
expressing my personal gratitude towards
APNAN and all concerned for all the necessary
assistance provided to the Union of Myanmar.
Finally, I would like to congratulate “APNAN”
on its 20th anniversary and wish the very best
and greater success in its endeavors in the future.
Dr Cho Cho Myint
Pro- Rector – Academic Affairs (Retd)
Yezin Agriculture University, Union of
Myanmar
From a very active and dynamic friend of
APNAN….
APNAN is a very valuable organization for nations
applying EM and Nature Farming technologies.
Thus on behalf of the Vietnam – Japan
Technology Development Center and practitioners
of EM Technology in Vietnam, I thank APNAN
for its valuable assistance in the application of
EM Technology in Vietnam. We also extend our
greetings and sincere congratulation to APNAN
on its 20th anniversary.
A note of felicitation from Costa Rica….
Cheers from all your friends here at EARTH
University in Costa Rica for the 20th anniversary
of APNAN. We have witnessed how APNAN has
23
paradise by eradicating disease, poverty and
conflict. This is shown at Sara Buri.
Two decades have passed, since the inception of
APNAN – it has been a fruitful period where
people have learned from the nature following
Mokichi Okada’s philosophy through Kyusei
Nature Farming
and
EM
Te c h n o l o g y
which
are
contributing
significant
sustainable
methods for the
21st century.
We do hope in the
next decade, our
Kyusei Nature
Farming Center
and APNAN activities will serve the Asia and
Pacific region and the other continentals to fulfill
the human needs, particularly food security and
a better environment on the basis of sustainability,
productivity and social adoptability.
We thank APNAN for their cooperation and hope
that this union will strengthen to greater heights
in the future.
Kanit Muangnil
Sara Buri, Thailand
Vietnam began
using EM in 1996,
through
the
assistance
of
APNAN and in
1997, a delegation
headed
by
Professor
Dr
Teruo Higa visited
Hanoi
to
participate in
seminars
and
discussions with
Ministers of the Vietnam Government and Senior
Officials and academics. Soon afterwards, an
agreement of cooperation was signed between the
Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam
and APNAN, INFRC and EMRO. Since then, the
use of EM has been expanding and today over
70% of the provinces of Vietnam use EM for
agriculture, waste management, animal husbandry
and crops. We anticipate further developments in
the future to cover the whole of Vietnam with
these technologies promoted by APNAN.
It is hope and wish that APNAN will continue to
assist us in this venture and we wish this great
network the very best and hope that it will grow
from strength to strength to support the
development of sustainable agriculture and a clean
environment in all nations of the world.
Dr Le Khac Quang
Vina Nich Center, Hanoi, Vietnam
From the father of the authentic EM
movement in Europe
Congratulations APNAN…!!!!
In 1995 Agriton met EM Effective Microorganisms during a lecture in Amsterdam. After
this first meeting we were invited to the Fourth
Farming held at
Paris, France in
June. At this
Conference the
first scientific
reports about the
use of EM in the
cycle of soil-feedanimal-manure
really impressed
us. Together with
the
APNAN
manual we had
A note from a dear friend and a strong
supporter of our activities….
Congratulations to Asia Pacific Natural Agriculture
Network on 20th Anniversary!!
The Kyusei Nature Farming Center, Sara Buri, a
unit of Asia Agricultural Personnel Creation
Institute of Thailand, supported by the Sekai
Kyusei Kyo Thai Headquarters, was established
in 1988 in the Sara Buri province, a year prior to
the First International Conference on Kyusei
Nature Farming and EM Technology, held at Khon
Kaen, Thailand. Since then, the center has
cooperated with APNAN especially for training
and workshop activities.
Kyusei Nature Farming is a method, which was
advocated by Mokichi Okada of Japan, founder
of Sekai Kyusei Kyo in 1935. It is based on the
belief that the world can be transformed into a
24
good tools to introduce the EM Technology of
Prof. Higa into The Netherlands. After our first
significant research paper in The Netherlands, we
were invited to the 2 yearly Conferences all over
the world.
Special memories to the Conference which should
be held in China in 1997 and was shifted to
Bangkok. In 2 weeks time the APNAN crew
rescheduled the whole Conference! What a job!
Many Conferences followed. We congratulate
APNAN and her crew with her 20th anniversary
and wish her another 20 or more fruitful years!
Frits van den Ham –
Agriton – The Netherlands
commercial reality in Australia. We wish this great
little network the very best for the future.
Ken Bellamy
VRM, Townsville
Australia
From NZ Nature Farming Society -a longstanding partner.....
From my very first exposure to EM back in 1992,
and
the
subsequent
evaluation of EM
in New Zealand
in 1994, and the
development of
our production
facility in 1998,
APNAN has been
an invaluable and
essential resource
for
our
organization.
APNAN has helped us to grow and become a
significant EM production facility in the South
Pacific. APNAN helps us in many ways, from
answering technical questions on EM and
Bokashi, to helping us produce quality EM 1, and
providing training for New Zealanders through
the Sara Buri workshop programs. A million
thanks to APNAN and all of the faithful staff
members who have dedicated many long hours
to making this little network so successful.
A note from down under… from Kangaroo
land….
We are very
grateful for the
wonderful
support we have
received from
APNAN over the
past ten years or
more. For us
APNAN is like a
conscientious
Grandmother —
quietly cleaning
up after her
grandkids and making sure they do not fall in the
mud too often—and every now and then
introducing them to new friends and partners!
We have had the privilege of attending several
workshops and meetings sponsored by APNAN
and hosting each of the APNAN technicians over
the years and have seen the fruits of these
relationships mature into long-term multi- national
partnerships with great benefit now.
These include the implementation of quality
control processes and the sharing of ideas across
many countries in which we have participated.
We are also proud to say that it is because of a
few days sleeping on the floor at an APNAN
workshop that we have developed a very strong
relationship with our own Department of
Environment and with others in the same field in
the UK. These two relationships have helped us
take the concepts of Nature Farming and EM out
of the land of “mystery and maybe” and into
Mike Daly
New Zealand Nature Farming Society
Christchurch
New Zealand
From our neighbors in Malaysia……
Congratulations on your 20th anniversary!
JAMOF was born in 2004 when Malaysia was
one of the least active countries in the world with
EM Technology. In order for us to catch up with
our elder brothers, we have been running at the
top gear and finally are succeeding. In Penang,
with the support by its State Government,
communities/volunteers represented by major
factories, religious groups, schools and ordinary
residents are going to produce a million EM mud
balls and throw them into a few rivers in trying
25
to regain its once
glorious name of
“Pearl of Orient”.
We hope that this
proposed world
largest EM mud
balls application at
a small corner of
Malaysia, Penang,
will
help
disseminate the
EM Technology
further nationwide
and lead us to the highest peak. We thank APNAN
for its continued support and wish it well into its
future.
Mr. T Sawada
JAMOF, Penang
Malaysia
A VERY SPECIAL MESSAGE TO THE SONS
AND DAUGHTERS OF APNAN
A MESSAGE FROM OUR DEAR MUM…
It is with significant
pleasure that I write
this to the greater
world of EM
Technology and
Nature Farming,
which is promoted
by APNAN – The
little network based
in
Bangkok,
Thailand. I have
seen this network
grow with pride and
pleasure, as I consider it a place of my children,
who have shown the world and its humankind a
path to a wholesome and better life.
APNAN, from its beginning was a home to many
young Japanese, who were trained to be leaders
– This was done with dedication and competence
by a few, whose motivation was to serve
humankind and not be selfish. Today, after twenty
years, I look back and see with great pleasure,
what APNAN has done – it’s a hive of activity in
a cordial manner- coordinating and training – and
what is special to me, who is considered to be
the APNAN mother is that the activities have
inspired me to reach out to the world in an
unassuming and modest way. The many programs
that I have started with people of my homeland
in Japan have been inspired by the activities of
APNAN. At the end of twenty years – I do not
look back – but to the future of our little network,
which I believe has led the pathway in showing
what real networking is. It has inspired many and
it is my wish that the movement moves ahead –
not resting on its laurels of achievement. APNAN,
I believe has a significant role to play, and in my
own way, do assure APNAN that I will assist and
support them.
I wish this wonderful family network the very
best for its next twenty and more years.
Ms. Setsuko Higa
Okinawa
IN MEMORIAM.......
It is with respect that we acknowledge the
guidance and assistance given to us by the
following -who after their very successful and
productive life on this earth, took the path of nature
as all living beings do and departed this world. It
is with sincere respect and gratitude that we pay
tribute to these great persons, who guided our
destinies and supported us in thoughts, words,
performaces and deeds. We bow our heads to
their great lives.
Rev. Yasushi Matsumoto
Ex President, Sekai Kyusei Kyo and ex Chairman,
Board of Directors, INFRC
Rev. Kazuo Wakugami
President, Sekai Kyusei Kyo, Thailand and Advisor
and mentor of APNAN
Rev. (Ms) Tsuru Wakugami
Sekai Kyusei Kyo, Thailand
Rev. Masanao Okuma
Sekai Kyusei Kyo – Sara Buri, Thailand
Mr. Yasufumi Namisato
Ex President, EM Research Organization
26
INFRC
THE INTERNATIONAL NATURE FARMING RESEARCH CENTER, ATAMI, JAPAN
The International Nature Farming Research Center, located at Atami, Japan, was established in 1985 with the
objectives of enhancing economic stability of farmers and producing nutritious and good quality food for humankind.
Thus, the INFRC undertakes research and extension programs on Nature Farming based on the principles of Nature
Farming advocated by Mokichi Okada, who stated the importance of respecting nature and conforming to its laws.
The importance of allowing soils to exhibit their inherent potential is also a key to the principles of Nature Farming,
which is promoted by the INFRC.
Today, the INFRC supports over 1900 Nature Farming units in Japan – both in crops and livestock operations. It also
has a research farm at Hata, Nagano where scientists are diligently working towards the validation of Nature Farming.
The INFRC also promotes the use of EM technology to stimulate the soil biota and enhance productivity.
The international activities of INFRC range from being associated with the International Federation of Organic
Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), supporting the Asia Pacific Natural Agriculture Network (APNAN) and also
research and development in many nations such as China, Laos and Myanmar.
In the recent past, the INFRC has been accredited to certify organic products and farms under the JAS Organic
Certification scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture of Japan, which is now promoting Organic Agriculture. Thus, the
INFRC is a very dynamic organization working diligently to provide a sustainable system of producing food through
Nature Farming, based on principles of Mokichi Okada.
The INFRC can be contacted at:
International Nature Farming Research Center,
8F, Atami Daiichi Building, 9-1 Taharahoncho,
Atami, Shizuoka 413-0011 Japan.
Phone: +81 557 85 2001
Fax : +81 557 85 3156
Email : overseas@infrc.or.jp
Website : www.infrc.or.jp/english
DEAR READERS……..
PLEASE NOTE!!!
The next Scientific Conference of IFOAM will be held in Korea in 2011! This is the
first time in the history of IFOAM, that the world congress is held in our continent
– ASIA!!
APNAN request all our readers and friends to submit abstracts of research and
experiences for possible presentation as Oral or Poster sessions at either the
scientific sessions of ISOFAR or the World Organic Conference.
Please contact us for further details – But we do request you in earnest to do some
studies with Nature Farming and EM and submit the abstracts to the conference.
The details of submission will be on the web site in early 2011 – but we must plan
ahead. We do look forward for your cooperation!! Please contact us at APNAN for
details or check the IFOAM/ISOFAR websites for further details!!!!
27
Meeting of old friends
Rev. Amano says.. Can I sing ?
Rev. Matsumoto and APNAN president
APNAN Bosses enjoy an evening
VIPs do the Kiwi traditional dance
Traditions are respected
We are happy at APNAN
I am solving problems
28

APNAN NEWS 20(2) final 2

Transcription

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