The Legacy of Modern Agriculture and the Case for Natural Farming
Modern agriculture is an enterprise rooted in violence and manipulation against nature. Its origins, mainly since the post-WWII era, can be traced to the surplus production capacity of the U.S. military-industrial complex. Seeking alternative markets, the industry redirected its resources toward the pesticide and fertilizer sectors, capitalizing on the Green Revolution. This movement profoundly shaped agricultural systems in some of the world’s most populous developing nations, including China, India, and the Philippines.
As we now face the looming threat of increasing conflicts in many parts of the world, it is worth noting that, since the Kyoto Protocol, the environmental impact of military conflicts—especially their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions—has been deliberately excluded from climate change discussions. Meanwhile, we are overwhelmed by various climate crises, often overlooking alternative approaches to restore the balance between human activity and nature.
Natural Farming: A Regenerative Alternative
During this period of industrialized agriculture, a counter-movement emerged in Japan, led by pioneers such as Masanobu Fukuoka (福冈正信), Yoshikazu Kawaguchi (川口由一), and the Mokichi Okada Association (MOA Japan). Their principles of natural farming emphasize harmony with ecosystems, minimizing external inputs, and regenerating soil health. According to scientific studies conducted by MOA Japan, natural farming has the lowest carbon footprint among modern agricultural practices. Its core principles as we have learned by practising, include:
- No tilling: Avoiding soil disturbance to preserve microbial life and organic matter.
- No enemies among weeds and pests: Encouraging biodiversity rather than eradicating species.
- No exposure to bare soil: Protecting soil with continuous plant cover to prevent erosion and carbon loss.
- Perennial and self-regenerative annual crops: Reducing dependency on high-input monocultures.
- Minimal external inputs: Prioritizing recycled and locally available materials.
- Seed independence: Promoting local seed sovereignty and biodiversity.
- Redefining food sources: Moving away from industrialized grocery supply chains and embracing whole-plant consumption, such as diverse salad greens utilizing the full life cycle of vegetables.
A Path Forward
By integrating natural farming principles and embracing traditional, nutrient-rich crops, we can mitigate agriculture’s environmental impact while fostering a more resilient and self-sustaining food system. As the urgency of climate change accelerates, it is time to rethink our agricultural models and adopt regenerative practices that prioritize both human and planetary health.