Masanobu Fukuoka

Masanobu Fukuoka
Masanobu Fukuoka, in 2002.
Born(1913-02-02)2 February 1913
Iyo, Japan
Died16 August 2008(2008-08-16) (aged 95)
Iyo, Japan
NationalityJapanese
Occupation(s)Agricultural scientist, farmer, author
Known forPhilosophy, natural farming
Notable workThe One-Straw Revolution
AwardsRamon Magsaysay Award, Desikottam Award, Earth Council Award

Masanobu Fukuoka (Japanese: 福岡 正信, Hepburn: Fukuoka Masanobu, 2 February 1913 – 16 August 2008) was a Japanese farmer and philosopher celebrated for his natural farming and re-vegetation of desertified lands. He was a proponent of no-till, herbicide and pesticide-free cultivation methods from which he created a particular method of agriculture, commonly referred to as "natural farming" or "do-nothing farming".[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Fukuoka was the author of several books, scientific papers and other publications, and was featured in television documentaries and interviews from the 1970s onwards.[7] His influences went beyond farming to inspire individuals within the natural food and lifestyle movements. He was an outspoken advocate of the value of observing nature's principles.[8]

  1. ^ Sustainable Agriculture: Definition and Terms. Special Reference Briefs Series no. SRB 99-02, September 1999. Compiled by: Mary V. Gold, Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, US Department of Agriculture
  2. ^ Setboonsarng, S. and Gilman, J. 1999. Alternative Agriculture in Thailand and Japan. HORIZON Communications, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut. Online review version (Retrieved 25 March 2014).
  3. ^ Toyoda, Natsuko (September–October 2008). "Farmer Philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka: Humans must Strive to Know the Unknown (1)" (PDF). Japan Spotlight. 161. Tokyo: Japan Economic Foundation. ISSN 1348-9216.
  4. ^ Toyoda, Natsuko (November–December 2008). "Farmer Philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka Humans Must Strive to Know the Unknown (2): What Does Natural Farming Mean?" (PDF). Japan Spotlight. 162. Tokyo: Japan Economic Foundation. ISSN 1348-9216.
  5. ^ Toyoda, Natsuko (January–February 2009). "Farmer Philosopher Masanobu Fukuoka: Humans Must Strive to Know the Unknown (3) Greening Desserts by Clay-Ball Seeding" (PDF). Japan Spotlight. 162. Tokyo: Japan Economic Foundation. ISSN 1348-9216.
  6. ^ Toyoda, Natsuko (January–February 2010). "The Key to Success" (PDF). Japan Spotlight. 169. Tokyo: Japan Economic Foundation. ISSN 1348-9216.
  7. ^ NHK TV 1976 Documentary (in Japanese). Archived 24 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 30 November 2010.
  8. ^ Scheewe W. (2000) Nurturing the Soil, Feeding the People: An Introduction to Sustainable Agriculture, rev ed. Rex Bookstore, Inc. ISBN 9789712328954