Organic agriculture is a holistic production management system which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles, and soil biological activity. In Feb 2023, students from Nutrition and Food Management visited an organic farm called “CityFarm” which located in Tai Shui Hang, Ma On Shan. Students were introduced about the organic farming methods such as different types of organic fertilizers, the cycle of crop rotation, and pest control by an experienced organic farmer, Mr. Wong.  His wife, Mrs. Wong assisted us to visit the farmland and introduced different crops and types of flowers to us.

To experience the cultivation process, students were given a chance to weed and farm that they may never try. The fruitful trip was ended by a guest talk with the topic “Probiotics on Human Health”. Mr. Billy Lui, a senior clinical scientist from The Thai Royal Biodiversity Research Unit, Rajamangala University of Technology in Thailand was invited as the speaker. Students replied they learnt more about organic farming and function of probiotics beside targeting the gut health. “In my personal experience, I have observed that organic farm products are of superior quality compared to conventional ones. Organic produce is fresher, more flavorful, and nutrient-dense. Moreover, organic farming practices align with my personal values of sustainability and environmental preservation.” Cyrus Chan, a NUFM year 2 student replied he gained valuable experience from the visit.

The farmers introduced different organic plants with their morphology, nutritive value, and food function to our students.
To prepare a farmland for cropping, students removed the weed with their hands.
Students were interested in the topic: Probiotics with human health delivered by Mr. Billy Lui.
Thanks for the great weather, we spent a great afternoon in CityFarm.