Tags：Food and AgricultureChubu

The 2025 Entrance Ceremony of the Nature Farming College, Institute of Agriculture, Environment and Health (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation) was held on April 6th at Hozantei, an old private house on Ohito Farm. This year, 13 students entered the school, including basic technology courses, short-term training courses and courses for working adults. Five students from the Department of Basic Science and Short-term Training attended the ceremony, except for those who have already started training.

 

 

Principal Yoshifumi Tasaka gave a speech. He introduced an educational policy that aims to teach the MOA Nature Farming Method, which Mokichi Okada founded at Ohito Farm blessed with the natural environment and improve the personality as well as acquire agricultural technology. Referring to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries‘ Green Food System Strategy that sets a goal of expanding organic farming to 1 million hectares by 2050, which is 25% of the prefecture’s total cultivated land area, he expressed his hope that new students will study hard to respond to the demands of the times for the Nature Farming Method and organic farming, and work towards the realization of each goal.

 

 

After a congratulatory speech by Akihisa Iwamoto, Representative Director of the Institute, and an introduction to instructors and academic staff, Akira Shiraki announced his vows on behalf of the new students. He stated that he was aware of the current state of Japan, which relies on agriculture that relies on chemical fertilizers and pesticides, and most food ingredients overseas, and decided to enter the school with the aim of solving agricultural problems as much as possible through the Nature Farming Method, and announced emphatically, “I would like to seek guidance from various teachers at the university, acquire technical knowledge, and challenge the cultivation of various agricultural products.

 

60 alumni attended the 35th anniversary celebration.

 

On March 15th, prior to the entrance ceremony, the 35th anniversary celebration was held at the MOA Ohito Training Center. Sixty alumni attended, including graduates from the 35th class since the school opened, and graduates of the course for working adults starting in 2023.

 

Principal Tasaka gave the opening remarks, followed by remarks by Representative Director Iwamoto, lecturer; and former principal Yang Jie Gyo, Professor Emeritus of Kitasato University; and Masao Shiga, Advisor of MOA International Co., Ltd. A toast was given by the third-class alumnus Hirokazu Ban, Chairman of the Alumni Association, and alumni deepened exchanges beyond the term.

 

 

Each of the alumni stood up and gave greetings, and various status reports were given by Nature Farming practitioners and Nature Farming Method extension staff, and realization of the importance of food learned at the school while working at food-related companies and different industries. Among them, there was a report that conveyed the feeling of the situation surrounding the Nature Farming Method that had changed while inviting laughter, saying, “I chose the Nature Farming College because I have a good eye for it.”

 

 

Next, guests Akio Morita, Director of the Institute of Agriculture, Environment, and Health, lecturer Hirokazu Nakai, Professor Emeritus of Shizuoka University, and Professor Emeritus of Nishidori Shizuoka University gave greetings. Greetings were given to alumni who are active with a learning attitude after graduation.

 

In the evening, as part 2, alumni who wished to stay gathered in Ohito Farm’s large tent and attended a seminar by Principal Tasaka who introduced the current curriculum of the school and cooperation with the community. Next, they learned about the progress of each project by the Farm Division, Graduate School, and Livestock Department, and deepened friendships at the barbecue using Nature Farming Method vegetables.

 

 

The school opened at Ohito Farm in 1982, and since then, it has produced over 300 graduates. With the catchphrase of “learning from nature is here,” the school offers a short-term course where students can receive practical training and specialized classes for 4 months according to the situation of the students, as well as a short-term course where students can receive practical training for 4 months according to each student’s situation, and a working-class course which is practiced twice a month for 1 year.