Sorgo Utilization and Agricultural Support in Izumisano, U.S.A. and China - 2006

Sorgo Utilization and Agricultural Support in Izumisano, U.S.A. and China - 2006

In 2006, in addition to the efforts of Izumisano City, Osaka, Japan, sustainable agriculture utilizing sorghum (sorghum) was promoted in the United States and China. In the U.S. Great Plains region, including Kansas, the spread of Melanaphis sorghi (sorghum aphid), which is damaging to sorghum cultivation, encouraged biological control using natural enemies such as ladybugs and hoverflies. Crop rotation with non-host crops and adjustment of sowing times were also introduced to reduce the use of chemical pesticides.

In China, the government promoted pesticide reduction and progress was made in the use of pheromones and botanical pesticides; starting in 2016, an action plan to reduce pesticide and chemical fertilizer use was implemented, with an emphasis on environmentally friendly farming practices in major crops, including sorghum. These international efforts aim to balance environmental conservation and productivity improvement, a characteristic shared with the case of sorghum utilization in Izumisano, Japan.