Last week, guest lecturer Shimpei Murakami led a session on natural farming in tropical areas at ARI. Participants explored the importance of forests, soil health, and natural cycles. Murakami contrasted chemical and organic farming, explaining how conventional methods degrade the soil over time. He emphasized humus, compost, and biodiversity as keys to sustainable agriculture. The interactive session included many questions and lively discussion.

About Shimpei Murakami

Shinpei Murakami was born in Tamura City, Fukushima Prefecture in 1959. He was the successor of a farmer who started organic farming in 1970. However, in 1982, he went to India and stayed at the Gandhi Ashram for a year, which led him to pursue overseas cooperation. He spent six years in Bangladesh from 1985 and five years in Thailand from 1996, where he was involved in the promotion of natural farming and sustainable rural development through NGOs. After the 2011 disaster, he relocated to Mie prefecture and continued farming. He currently serves as the President of the Family Farming Platform Japan. He also established and supervises VISON Nouniere Farm in Taki Town, Mie Prefecture, a farm and restaurant based on the concept of Soil to Table, Table to soil.