Tags：Food and AgricultureChubu

On October 25, the “Organic Farming Forum in Anan” was held at the Anan Cultural Hall in Anan Town, Nagano Prefecture. The event commemorated the 40th anniversary of Anan Farm, a research farm for MOA Nature Farming. Approximately 200 participants, including townspeople, government officials, and legislators, attended the event.

 

Following a performance of the local traditional art “Wago no Nenbutsu Odori,” which is registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, the event commenced with a greeting from Farm Director Hisao Miyajima. The 40-year history of the farm was revisited through a video presentation. Distinguished guests, including former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ichiro Miyashita, Prefectural Assembly Member Kiyoshi Koike, and Anan Town Mayor Kazunari Katsuno, praised the farm’s efforts and wished for its continued development.

 

 

Under the theme “The Role of Agriculture in Regional Revitalization,” Mie Katsuno, Policy Information Analyst at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ New Business and Food Industry Division, Food Culture Policy Office, delivered a lecture. She introduced advanced initiatives from across the country, including the activities of the Organic Village in Tokushima Prefecture, where she served as Deputy Governor. Katsuno emphasized that “organic farming is not merely a cultivation technique but a culture that connects people and nature, life and life.”

 

Following this, Tatsuya Sasaki, President of the Shinshu Anan Total Marketing Association, presented on “Efforts Toward Regional Revitalization through Effective Use of Idle Farmland.” He introduced activities aimed at promoting economic development in Anan through agriculture.

 

 

 

■Utilizing Anan Farm for Community Enrichment

 

A panel discussion on the theme “Organic Farming and Future Community Enrichment” was held, featuring Mayor Kazunari Katsuno, Mie Katsuno (Policy Information Analyst), President Tatsuya Sasaki, Kazuyoshi Kamikubo (Planning Officer and Environmental Agriculture Section Chief at the Nagano Prefecture Agricultural Technology Division), Seong-Seong Kim (Director of Tomikusa Remote Clinic and Wago Remote Clinic), Keiji Ogura (Organic Farming Practitioner in the Wago District), and Yasuyuki Itasaka (MOA Nature Farming Promoter at Anan Farm). The discussion was moderated by Shigeru Yoshida, Representative of the NPO Shizuoka Organic Web, who sought opinions on the future of Anan Farm in terms of community and human development.

 

 

Chief Kamikubo introduced educational activities related to organic farming within the prefecture and stated that the presence of Anan Farm is a regional strength. Director Kim emphasized the importance of the relationship between food and health, advocating for the provision of organic ingredients in school lunches and the necessity of agricultural experience classes.

 

Mr. Ogura stressed the importance of showcasing practical examples and expressed his expectations for demonstration displays and support for new farmers at Anan Farm. President Sasaki, using rice bran as an example, spoke about the benefits of utilizing farm cooperation to help circulate local resources.

 

Mayor Katsuno acknowledged the challenges of population decline and the reduction in the number of farmers, expressing his expectations for the activities of local farmers and Anan Farm. Promoter Itasaka spoke about creating opportunities for agricultural experiences at Anan Farm and the future prospect of providing ingredients for school lunches.

 

Policy Information Analyst Katsuno remarked that with the lineup of panelists, the key players are in place and expressed optimism that aiming for an Organic Village would lead to regional development. Representative Yoshida emphasized that the expansion of organic farming, as hoped for in the Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems, should be considered alongside community building. He highlighted that Anan Farm has the potential to connect local agriculture with food, health, and education, which was met with resounding applause from the audience.

 

At the venue, there was a direct sales event featuring vegetables grown using the Nature Farming Method. Following the forum, a reception was held at the adjacent Anan Youth Nature House Hall, where appetizers and medicinal dishes made with ingredients using the Nature Farming Method were served. Before the forum, Analyst Katsuno and Representative Yoshida toured Anan Farm, confirming the long-standing research and demonstration results of the Nature Farming Method.

 

 

Hosted by: Anan Farm 40th Anniversary Commemoration Executive Committee／Supported by: Nagano Prefecture, Anan Town, Anan Town Board of Education／Sponsored by: MOA Nature Farming and Culture Foundation, MOA Trading Co., Ltd.