In China's epic 7,000 year history of rice farming, all but the last 30 has been what we would call "totally organic." Unfortunately 30 years is enough to derail a very fine and long love affair, with two developments popping up to threaten the stability of rice growing in China: the over use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and the ever ominous shadow of uncontrolled genetic engineering. With China the largest consumer and producer of chemical pesticides, we commissioned five ecological agricultural experts to research better ways to grow rice in China. View the report here (in Chinese).
The Chinese government's funding for research and development of genetically engineered food currently exceeds that of eco-agriculture by thirty times. Money that could have been used to research, promote and support sustainable agriculture in China. For example, enhancing existing programs that are already uncovering the astounding creativity and resourefulness of farmers of the past, while testing innovative new eco-technologies of the future.
Take a look at these five examples of simple, chemical-free methods to grow rice in China that are good for the Earth, and therefore good for China: