An Analysis Of Fukuoka's One-Straw Revolution

Mansanobu Fukuoka was a Japanese man who studied plant pathology. He worked for the government first as a customs inspector focused on disease carrying insects,and later as the Head Researcher of Disease and Insect Control he specifically focused on increasing food production. In between these two positions, Fukuoka worked as part of a research lab with similar subjects. Inevitably, his research led him to different conclusions than he saw forming with modern agriculture and eventually Fukuoka moved onto his father's farm in order to 'live' within truths he claimed about 'natural' vs modern agriculture. Fukuoka wrote many different books and articles. The One-Straw Revolution focuses on the philosophy of sustainable agriculture

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Living during a transitional period for Japanese agriculture and working first within modern agriculture, then transforming his techniques himself, had given Fukuoka an invaluable insight on the realities of farming knowledge. The One-Straw Revolution is filled with data accurately representing natural farming as a legitimate alternative to the industrialized techniques developed. Not only is natural farming comparative to ancient techniques of rice harvesting, but with alterations of ancient cultivation with methods to mimic nature, sustainable agriculture quickly becomes restorative and

It is addressed in the introduction that Fukuoka's prescriptions are solely based on Japanese climate and flora/fauna, but while reading, it is impossible to not imagine how his techniques must be applicable worldwide. Though this would obviously be a desire, it must be true that location would have a great affect on application. Also, Fukuoka's history, education, and family gave him an ideal environment in which to carry out his research and lifestyle. Most people in the world that may want to live more naturally probably will never have the means to do it as Fukuoka did. Also, when discussing challenges, he did show that those who may have the means to make great changes to positively affect many, will not change because of current social structures. Fukuoka had great disapproval against those the supported the current social structure, but he did not address how massive the changes would really have to be, and how many people would have to change and