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From Korea to Hawaii: How is Korean natural farming changing the agricultural world?
Korean Natural Farming (KNF) is an organic farming method that uses indigenous microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and protists) to improve soil quality, aiming to achieve high yields without relying on herbicides and pesticides. . KNF emphasizes self-sufficiency to limit external inputs and relies on the recycling of farm waste to produce bioactive raw materials. Amid its growing popularity, the scientific evidence for KNF is scant, but it has attracted widespread attention and discussion.
The core concept of Korean natural agriculture is to enhance productivity and nutritional value by enhancing the biological functions of every aspect of plant growth.
History
Cho Han-gyu, the founder of Korean natural agriculture, was born in Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea in 1935. Zhao completed high school at the age of 29 while working on the family farm. In 1965, he went to Japan to study three pioneers of natural agriculture, and in 1995 he founded the Natural Agriculture Life School and Research Farm. Cho combined his newfound knowledge with traditional Korean agricultural techniques and gradually developed what is now Korean Natural Agriculture.
Principles and Application
KNF's principle is to use indigenous microorganisms to improve nutrient cycling and enhance soil health. KNF advocates a variety of approaches, including:
- Use the nutrients contained in the seeds
- Utilizing indigenous microorganisms
- Maximize your talent potential and get more output with less investment
- Avoid the use of commercial fertilizers and tillage
KNF avoids the use of animal manure, thereby reducing the potential for pathogens to flow back into the food production chain, although adding manure may improve yields in nitrogen-poor conditions.
The importance of indigenous microorganisms
KNF utilizes aerobic microorganisms to promote the decomposition of soil organic matter and nutrient availability. Soil with healthy roots can contain up to 7 million microorganisms per hectare. These microorganisms work together to form a healthy microscopic ecosystem that allows plants to better absorb necessary nutrients.
Different stages of plant growth
KNF believes that plant growth can be divided into three basic stages, each stage requires a different nutritional balance:
- Vegetative growth stage: Mainly requires nitrogen, KNF prefers to use fish amino acid preparation.
- Flowering/reproduction stage: At this time, the supply of calcium and phosphorus needs to be focused. It is recommended to use fermented plant juice and other additives.
- Fruit ripening stage: The main function is to promote the ripening of fruits, most of which require calcium.
Impact in Hawaii
With the rise of KNF, this model quickly spread to other countries. Farmers in Hawaii have discovered that KNF has brought significant changes to local agriculture. A missionary saw almost no odor in commercial pig houses in South Korea, which triggered his interest in KNF technology. In 2008, he renamed his natural farming school and laboratory and officially introduced this concept.
Conclusion
Generally speaking, the rise of Korean natural agriculture in the global agricultural community is not only an innovation in agricultural technology, but also a pursuit of environmentally friendly production methods. Against this background, is it possible for us to see more KNF-like practices in future agricultural development, thereby promoting the development of sustainable agriculture?
