Tomoko und Yoshinori Kaneko
Organic pioneers in Japan
Lifetime Achievement Award 2021

For over 40 years, Mr. and Mrs. Kaneko have been true champions leading the organic agriculture movements in Japan. They are highly respected for their personal integrity, sacrifice and dedication to the development of organic agriculture.

Their organic farm became the starting point of the transformation of an entire village into organic – the first ever in Japan – this is known as the ”Shimosato Model” of organic agriculture development. The village became the basis for other local governments and communities to convert to organic.

Mr. Yoshinori Kaneko realized that the Japanese society was very dependent on imported agricultural products and he believed this could be solved if local farmers produced safe and tasty organic products.

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WITH CIRCULAR ECONOMY TO THE FIRST ORGANIC VILLAGE IN JAPAN

Under the belief of the "Basics of Organic Farming is in the Soil", he began to build a circular system that included eating produce that was harvested in the fields - giving vegetable residues to feed livestock - livestock manure and fallen leaves of the forest and rice straw becoming raw materials for barnyard manure - using the barnyard manure as fertilizer to grow crops and to feed the livestock.

In 2015, their organic farm was designated as a training center for organic farming by the Ministry of Agriculture. More than 400 trainees from all over the world have received training there. This has enabled many to start their own organic farms in their communities.

Mr. and Mrs. Kaneko also started a unique ”Teikei” (partnership between producer and consumer) system called ”orei-sei”. As the word “Orei” from “Orei-sei” means “gratitude”, consumers are allowed to express their gratitude according to their free will not necessarily only with money.

Based on this unique way of ”Orei-sei”, the Kanekos have established a trusting relationship with consumer households for more than 40 years. As of today, there are 40 households who buy produce directly from the farm. The payment for the food (seasonal vegetables, rice, milk and eggs) is decided by the consumers as the Kanekos do not believe that food is a “commodity” but “a gift”.

”The Shimosato Organic Farm in Saitama, Japan, is the most exemplary organic farm I have visited over the years and it is an outstanding example to highlight the attributes of the One World Award.”, declares Zhou Zejiang, President, IFOAM Asia.

”The Shimosato Organic Farm in Saitama, Japan, is the most exemplary organic farm I have visited over the years and it is an outstanding example to highlight the attributes of the One World Award.”, declares Zhou Zejiang, President, IFOAM Asia.

Tomoko und Yoshinori Kaneko Organic pioneers in Japan Lifetime Achievement Award 2021

WITH CIRCULAR ECONOMY TO THE FIRST ORGANIC VILLAGE IN JAPAN

Tomoko und Yoshinori Kaneko
Organic pioneers in Japan
Lifetime Achievement Award 2021