Natural farming and the biodiversity recovery
Some half century ago Taiwan experienced industrialization that brought economic prosperity to the small island. Nevertheless, the expense that the whole society pays today for such social development including environmental pollution and degraded soil in agricultural system is uncalculatable. Some well-known events of chemical pollution are dioxin contamination caused by Tainan Anshun factory of CNPC (China National Petroleum Corporation), and arsenic pollution at Beimen District where thousands of people suffered the Blackfoot disease.
Sadly, in the 21st Century, environmental pollutions have never stopped. A recent report about dumping and burying hundreds of tons of waste slag deeply in lands at Xuejia District discomforted residents and aroused their concerns about the possibility of underground water and soil contamination (https://tw.appledaily.com/local/20200926/WBP47M27OBDLVLYJHDRRY55YGE/).
Compare to industrial contaminations that are sporadically distributed, traditional agriculture that unlimitedly uses chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides often create a huge area of soil deterioration, which subsequently causes biodiversity loss in the soil microbes, thereby damaging the health of crop roots. In 2018, heavy rain and floods in southern Taiwan led to toppling of rice plants (Strain Tainan 16), and the following high temperatures induced serious rice blasts (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvGSo-xOtD8#action=share), both causing a huge agricultural loss. Infection of rice blast is highly associated with the uptake of high levels of nitrogen from chemical fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers promote fruiting, while weakening the shoot and root developments. When grains absorb rainwater and gain weights exceeding the extent of root supports, rice individuals finally fall. Besides, misuse of pesticides and herbicides causes loss of beneficial bacteria and fungi, which are supposed to be symbiotic with endophytes, inevitably damaging the crop health. Especially when raining season brings heavy moisture, the rice blast pathogens disperse in the air and infect rice.
In contrast, at the same sites with serious rice falling and blast, natural farming using microbial materials provided by our USR team escaped the environmental disasters in 2018. The mechanisms of reducing the risks of rice falling and blast are attributable to the existence of soil biodiversity, which is fostered when farmers stop using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, beneficial microbes applied in the fields promote the growth and development of roots and shoots, subsequently fostering the health of the rice plant and the grain yields.
In Taiwan, there are at least two challenges to the natural farming. First, traditional agriculture receives more supports from governments than natural farming, inevitably lowering down the participation willingness for natural farming. Second, farmers concern if microbial solution is affordable and efficient for crop growth. Experiments conducted by our USR team revealed low cost of microbial materials, 300 NT dollars per 1000 m2 vs. 3000 NT dollar using traditional agriculture. Furthermore, crop yield of natural farming approximates that in traditional agriculture (13.8 vs. 14 units). Further considering the loss caused by rice blast, natural farming would be a better option.
However, the challenge to the natural farming did not stop; marketing of the high quality crop is the next concern. For promoting the natural farming, sales would be one of the key issues. Rice contest held in 2019 and 2020, supported by the USR grant, provided an efficient way for promoting the marketing of natural farming rice. Quality of rice produced by natural farming was judged by scientific analyses. Examination of levels of heavy metals (copper, lead, and cadmium), inorganic arsenic, total proteins (for checking the possibility of misuse of nitrogen), and palatability characteristics, determined the quality without any prejudice. Interestingly, competing rice was all of high quality. More importantly, sales in the past two years were thereby promoted.
Going back to the chemical pollution in soil, it has been known that inorganic arsenic often surpasses the nation’s standards, mostly due to the geological history of Taiwan. That is, the background level of arsenic, usually dissolved in water, in Taiwan’s environments tends to be high. For water growing rice, proper management is required. A USR class, in cooperating with the Dongshan Elementary School, invited Mr. Rongzong Li to demonstrate the water management in rice cultivation. The usefulness of the skills was revealed by the rice examined in the contest.
Natural farming with rice was mostly realized in the fields of Houbi District. Many young farmers joined the USR project and used the microbial materials developed by our team. At these farms, chemical fertilizers and pesticides are no more used. Nurtured with diverse bacteria and fungi, the soil has become soft, rich, and healthy, as further indicated by the increasing populations of earthworms and insects.
In addition, natural farming was also applied to the coffee farm in Dongshan District, where not only coffee but also oranges and longan are grown. After stopping the use of chemical fertilizers and herbicides, biodiversity has been recovered gradually. Quite many native, rare species were discovered in this area, including chrysidids, Eumenidae, pompilidae, Oxya chinesis, Odontomantis planiceps, Swinhoe's japalura, Sympis rufibasis. Most of them have been lost in farms of traditional agriculture for decades. Interestingly, chrysidids, an ancient insect, is an indicator of the ecological recovery.
(https://udn.com/news/story/7326/4786385?fbclid=IwAR0JeRlW45nY3fesosk9kQpNLm1bkLZL2-aB_ULrAklLcSAKGAPLB4-1YHo)
Members of our “food and agriculture education” class appreciated the diversity of plants, insects, and birds at the lands of natural farming. Surrounding by diverse insects and crested Serpent-eagle, members started to learn the harmony between human beings and environments.
Sadly, in the 21st Century, environmental pollutions have never stopped. A recent report about dumping and burying hundreds of tons of waste slag deeply in lands at Xuejia District discomforted residents and aroused their concerns about the possibility of underground water and soil contamination (https://tw.appledaily.com/local/20200926/WBP47M27OBDLVLYJHDRRY55YGE/).
Compare to industrial contaminations that are sporadically distributed, traditional agriculture that unlimitedly uses chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides often create a huge area of soil deterioration, which subsequently causes biodiversity loss in the soil microbes, thereby damaging the health of crop roots. In 2018, heavy rain and floods in southern Taiwan led to toppling of rice plants (Strain Tainan 16), and the following high temperatures induced serious rice blasts (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvGSo-xOtD8#action=share), both causing a huge agricultural loss. Infection of rice blast is highly associated with the uptake of high levels of nitrogen from chemical fertilizers. Chemical fertilizers promote fruiting, while weakening the shoot and root developments. When grains absorb rainwater and gain weights exceeding the extent of root supports, rice individuals finally fall. Besides, misuse of pesticides and herbicides causes loss of beneficial bacteria and fungi, which are supposed to be symbiotic with endophytes, inevitably damaging the crop health. Especially when raining season brings heavy moisture, the rice blast pathogens disperse in the air and infect rice.
In contrast, at the same sites with serious rice falling and blast, natural farming using microbial materials provided by our USR team escaped the environmental disasters in 2018. The mechanisms of reducing the risks of rice falling and blast are attributable to the existence of soil biodiversity, which is fostered when farmers stop using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. In addition, beneficial microbes applied in the fields promote the growth and development of roots and shoots, subsequently fostering the health of the rice plant and the grain yields.
In Taiwan, there are at least two challenges to the natural farming. First, traditional agriculture receives more supports from governments than natural farming, inevitably lowering down the participation willingness for natural farming. Second, farmers concern if microbial solution is affordable and efficient for crop growth. Experiments conducted by our USR team revealed low cost of microbial materials, 300 NT dollars per 1000 m2 vs. 3000 NT dollar using traditional agriculture. Furthermore, crop yield of natural farming approximates that in traditional agriculture (13.8 vs. 14 units). Further considering the loss caused by rice blast, natural farming would be a better option.
However, the challenge to the natural farming did not stop; marketing of the high quality crop is the next concern. For promoting the natural farming, sales would be one of the key issues. Rice contest held in 2019 and 2020, supported by the USR grant, provided an efficient way for promoting the marketing of natural farming rice. Quality of rice produced by natural farming was judged by scientific analyses. Examination of levels of heavy metals (copper, lead, and cadmium), inorganic arsenic, total proteins (for checking the possibility of misuse of nitrogen), and palatability characteristics, determined the quality without any prejudice. Interestingly, competing rice was all of high quality. More importantly, sales in the past two years were thereby promoted.
Going back to the chemical pollution in soil, it has been known that inorganic arsenic often surpasses the nation’s standards, mostly due to the geological history of Taiwan. That is, the background level of arsenic, usually dissolved in water, in Taiwan’s environments tends to be high. For water growing rice, proper management is required. A USR class, in cooperating with the Dongshan Elementary School, invited Mr. Rongzong Li to demonstrate the water management in rice cultivation. The usefulness of the skills was revealed by the rice examined in the contest.
Natural farming with rice was mostly realized in the fields of Houbi District. Many young farmers joined the USR project and used the microbial materials developed by our team. At these farms, chemical fertilizers and pesticides are no more used. Nurtured with diverse bacteria and fungi, the soil has become soft, rich, and healthy, as further indicated by the increasing populations of earthworms and insects.
In addition, natural farming was also applied to the coffee farm in Dongshan District, where not only coffee but also oranges and longan are grown. After stopping the use of chemical fertilizers and herbicides, biodiversity has been recovered gradually. Quite many native, rare species were discovered in this area, including chrysidids, Eumenidae, pompilidae, Oxya chinesis, Odontomantis planiceps, Swinhoe's japalura, Sympis rufibasis. Most of them have been lost in farms of traditional agriculture for decades. Interestingly, chrysidids, an ancient insect, is an indicator of the ecological recovery.
(https://udn.com/news/story/7326/4786385?fbclid=IwAR0JeRlW45nY3fesosk9kQpNLm1bkLZL2-aB_ULrAklLcSAKGAPLB4-1YHo)
Members of our “food and agriculture education” class appreciated the diversity of plants, insects, and birds at the lands of natural farming. Surrounding by diverse insects and crested Serpent-eagle, members started to learn the harmony between human beings and environments.
-
University characteristic Startup Stage Project
-
Tainan City
-
國立成功大學
548votes
Further reading
Measures for Leaving a Message to Enter the Draw for the Live Streaming of the Opening Ceremony
-
Event Period
From 13:00 to 14:00 on December 12 (Saturday), 2020
-
Event Measures
Log in to your personal Facebook or Google account to proceed with leaving a message; each account with a successful message of #2020usrexpo left before the end of the live streaming of the opening ceremony will have an opportunity to enter the draw, and each account is restricted to winning the prize once only.
-
List of Winners
On December 14 (Monday), 2020, the list of winners will be announced on the event official website https://2020usrexpo.org/) Announcement of the list of winners
Event Prize Content
-
1st Prize
“Huei Yeh” Power Extreme Massage Gun 1 winner
-
2nd Prize
Nestle Dolce Gusto Genio 2 1 winner
-
3rd Prize
KINYO Bluetooth 5.0 Wireless Speaker 2 winner
-
4th Prize
7-11 Gift Voucher valued at NT$200 27 winner
Announcement of the list of winners
The various prizes are expected to be notified via email and also announced on the event official website on December 14 (Monday), please will the prize winners pay attention to the prize-winning information, and send back the relevant documents according to the notices & explanations; no separate notification will be issued.
Notices
- The event period for this event is based on Taiwan time, and the delivery of the rewards is restricted to regions including Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu.
- Please refer to the actual products for the event rewards, the pictures used on the website are for reference only; no request for changing colors, specs, transfers, or cash redemption will be accepted.
- Our event organizer will not be liable for the follow-up warranty and maintenance of the winning rewards; once the rewards have been collected, signed, and accepted, no reissuance of the rewards will be available if the rewards have been lost, peculated, discarded, or damaged. Please refer to the actual products for the prize rewards, no return or exchange will be accepted; the prize winner must contact the manufacturer of the rewards if there is any issue regarding malfunctioning, damage, or maintenance.
- 1st prize ~ 2nd prize (Winning prizes with a value exceeding NT$1,000 (inclusive): Each prize winner should fill out the “Reward Collection Application and Receipt (will be announced together with the announcement of the list of winners)” within 7 days (including holidays based on the post stamp) starting from the next day with the announcement of the list of winners, and must provide a copy of both sides of the ID card. The copy must be sent to the specified place via registered mail; those passing the deadline will be deemed to give up the prize and rights, and no objections will be accepted from the prize winners.
- 3rd Prize ~ 4th Prize (Winning prizes with a value less than NT$1,000 (inclusive): Prize winners should reply to the prize-winning notifying letter via Email within 7 days (including holidays) starting from the next day of the announcement of the list of winners, to confirm the collection of the rewards and to fill out the relevant info for sending the rewards (to confirm the address for sending the gift), and to accelerate the follow-up qualification review. If the prize winners do not complete the relevant info before the deadline, they will be deemed to give up the opportunity to collect the rewards, and no alternative gifts or reissuance of gifts will be available.
- When the prize winners have completed filling out the prize-winning info, the organizer will double-check the identification data of the prize winners, the rewards will only be sent out when all data is correct.
- All prize-winning qualification needs to be approved by the organizer before it becomes effective, all reviewing standards are based on the organizer as the only reference.
- If the prize winner did not fill in the data complete and correct, or cannot be in contact, or did not send back the required data within the announced time of the rewards, the prize winner will then be deemed to voluntarily give up the prize, no separate notification will be announced.
- According to the R.O.C Tax Act, if the prize winner is an individual residing in Taiwan, and the prize amount (value) exceeds NT$1,000 (inclusive), then a copy of both sides of the ID card will need to be handed in for taxation, which will be incorporated into individual income for the annual taxation. If the prize winner is not an individual residing in Taiwan, 20% of reward tax must be deducted from the reward first regardless of the prize amount before the prize winner can collect the reward. If the prize winner is not an adult, a household registration transcript must be provided along with a letter of consent from the legal representative. If the prize winner is unwilling to pay the tax first, he/she will be deemed to give up the reward, and no objections will be accepted.
- If the prize winner is in violation of the relevant event measures or has other dissents, the organizer is allowed to retrieve the reward and no objections from the prize winner will be accepted. If a judicial dispute is involved, all legal liabilities will be held by the individual. The organizer will not be liable.
- If it is confirmed that the participant used a hacker program or other method that evidently violates the fairness of the event in an attempt to influence the event, the organizer is then allowed to disqualify the participant immediately or to cancel the prize-winning qualification. Compensation will be liable if a loss is caused for the organizer due to this.
- For reasons that the organizer are not liable for, including a computer, network, telephone, or technique issues resulting in the delay, loss, incorrect, unidentifiable, or damaged data uploaded by the participants, the organizer will not be liable for any legal liability, and no objections from the participants and prize winners will be accepted.
- The organizer reserves the rights to review the qualification of the event participants, if the organizer or a third party has reported that the participants are found to use methods that are intentional or evidently violate the fairness of the event, or do not conform to the rules of this event, the organizer will then be allowed to cancel the prize immediately.
- The event measures are stated on the event platform, the organizer reserves the right to alter the event details at any time (participating method, gift content and quantity…etc.); the participants must agree completely to follow and obey the alterations of the event without any objection. Please refer to the announcement of the event measures if alternations have been made to the event measures, no separate notification will be available.
- Unmentioned matters of this event should be handled according to the relevant rules of the civil law; the organizer reserves the rights to maintain, modify, cease and explain the content, as well as to cancel the prize-winning qualification of any prize winner influencing other prize winners’ rights. Refer to the announcement on the platform for the modification info; no separate notification will be available.
- Participants in the event agree to accept the event measures and notices, if, in violation, the organizer will then be allowed to cancel the qualification of the participant or the prize winner, and then request the participant for compensation for the losses caused.
- When the event is unable to be conducted due to force majeure causes, the organizer has the rights to cancel, terminate, modify, or cease the event. Participants in the event are deemed to accept the effectiveness of the rules, for unmentioned matters, the organizer reserves the rights to modify, terminate, and alter the event content details without giving out a separate notification.
TOP