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Six students and their professor, Jin Yong
Choe, PhD, spent two weeks working aside the research staff
at The Rodale Institute®. They also visited The Center
for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems at the University
of California, Santa Cruz. Some of these students had grown
up on farms while others found their calling later in life.
But each had this in common: They’d all been captivated
by the teachings of Dr. Choe, a pioneering researcher in his
country’s very young field of sustainable agriculture.
We asked Dr. Choe and his students to share a few words about
themselves and their experiences visiting the United States.
Here’s what they had to say:
Dr. Jin Yong
Choe
“Our sustainable agriculture is not
fully established yet, which means we are still very much
dependent on conventional farming practices. To convert
conventional farmers to organic farming, we face much difficulty.
Farmers are very reluctant and feel less confident without
chemicals. It’s difficult to get people supporting
sustainable agriculture with its sound philosophy rooted
in an understanding of nature…After visiting The Rodale
Institute, I have changed my mind, I think, from supporting
sustainable agriculture to promoting organic farming. I
am persuaded to do that.”
Cheon Woong
Kyoo (Woods)
“I have learned here by doing, with my body. I have
seen conventional agriculture soils and organic soils and
it has been very interesting. Conventional soils produce
erosion; organic soils produce mycchorizae, other beneficial
micro-organisms and soil organic matter. I have seen that
soil is very important to the health of the plant.”
Jeong Tae
Kyeong (Tony)
“…When I came to The Rodale Institute I learned
about organic farming and saw that some weeds growing within
the crops was okay. I see that low input, no chemical agriculture
is possible.”
Park Jae
Hyun
“Agricultural research is divided into two camps:
biotech and sustainable agriculture. In my case, I am more
interested in sustainable agriculture. Here at The Rodale
Institute, we have been learning about soil and it’s
effect on crops…We will establish a good organic system
in Korea, I hope, as soon as possible.”
Jo Hyun Su
(Josephine)
“Studying organic agriculture at UC Santa Cruz and
here, I have seen the importance of community. Everywhere,
there is activity. Korean culture is very different. Koreans
always sit down in a chair and study, but here the students
are very active.”
Oh Yeong
Mi
“My father is a farmer. When I was young I helped
him and I saw that conventional agriculture is very dangerous,
so I decided on another type of agriculture when I entered
the Department of Agronomy at Gyeong Sang National University.
Here at The Rodale Institute, I have learned more about
the importance of soil.”
Ha Tae Cheol
(Chuck)
“Here I have learned that you do not feed the plant,
but you feed the soil. That, to me, is a very nice idea.”
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