After decades of pioneering Ultra-Low-Cost organic farming alongside farmers, JADAM President Youngsang Cho has officially received academic recognition with a Ph.D. in Agricultural Biology from Jeonbuk National University, establishing the JADAM method as a model for agricultural innovation worldwide.
Dr. Youngsang Cho, the pioneering leader of the Ultra-Low-Cost Organic Farming movement, received his Ph.D. in Agricultural Biology on August 22, 2025, from the Department of Agricultural Biology at Jeonbuk National University in South Korea. This achievement is regarded not merely as an individual academic milestone but as a historic event demonstrating that the JADAM movement, which has provided alternatives for farmers for decades, has now been academically recognized.
Dr. Cho stated, “The future of agriculture opens when farmers themselves realize Ultra-Low-Cost farming through self-manufacture of inputs.” Throughout his life, he has dedicated himself to developing organic farming technologies that anyone can practice at low cost, free from dependence on chemical pesticides. Reflecting on his doctoral degree, he said, “Now it has been proven that JADAM is not just a farmers’ movement but a scientific model to be shared globally.”
Although organic farming has been spotlighted as a healthy and sustainable alternative, it has been difficult for farmers to adopt in practice, mainly due to the lack of effective measures to control pests and diseases. Existing organic inputs have often been either ineffective or too costly, making it nearly impossible to replace chemical pesticides in large-scale agriculture.
JADAM has directly overcome these challenges. The natural pesticides developed by Dr. Cho comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) organic farming standards. They deliver insecticidal and fungicidal efficacy on par with chemical pesticides, yet can be produced directly by farmers at Ultra-Low-Cost. By identifying materials that can be sourced globally and systematizing them, Dr. Cho created an innovative, eco-friendly pesticide that any farmer can easily manufacture and apply.
These JADAM natural pesticides achieve what traditional organic inputs could not - the effectiveness of chemical pesticides - while remaining affordable and transparent. All formulations are openly published, enabling anyone to learn and apply them. The cost is only a fraction of that of commercial pesticides, drastically reducing farmers’ economic burden. This breakthrough has shattered the long-held perception that organic farming is “unrealistic,” opening the way for farmers to continue agriculture sustainably without chemical dependence.
Dr. Cho’s doctoral dissertation focused on the development and application of JADAM Microbial Pesticide (JMP) and other JADAM natural pesticides. Importantly, it was not limited to laboratory research but included validation of their effectiveness in real agricultural settings. The study demonstrated that microbial-based JADAM pesticides provide insecticidal and fungicidal efficacy comparable to chemical pesticides. It also confirmed that by utilizing eco-friendly surfactants such as decyl glucoside, JADAM formulations achieve practical levels of penetration and systemic activity, making them highly usable for farmers. Furthermore, the study academically organized how self-manufacture reduces farming costs and restores farmer autonomy.
This dissertation officially confirms that the JADAM method, already experienced firsthand by countless farmers, is also a scientifically validated model. JADAM is now firmly established not merely as an alternative but as a new standard for agricultural innovation.
Today, JADAM has more than 200,000 members worldwide. Dr. Cho’s book, JADAM Organic Farming, has been translated into 20 languages and is used as a guidebook by farmers across the globe. JADAM provides free Q&A support through its official website, personally overseen by Dr. Cho. The organization also actively engages with farmers through YouTube and Instagram, while in Korea, more than 700 donors participate in an open chat group (a group messaging platform widely used in Korea) for real-time, field-based discussions. This demonstrates that JADAM has grown beyond a simple technology-sharing initiative into an international farmers’ network.
The contamination of soil, crops, and food caused by chemical pesticides has become a pressing global issue. JADAM offers a practical alternative: Ultra-Low-Cost organic farming technology that anyone can make and use. Through this, countless farmers are reducing production costs, producing safe food, and protecting the global environment.
Dr. Cho’s doctoral achievement is not merely personal honor. It symbolizes the academic validation of the JADAM method, which has been tested and refined in collaboration with farmers in the field. What began as grassroots practice has now been systematized into technology accessible to all and scientifically recognized through this Ph.D. This represents a symbolic milestone proving that the JADAM philosophy - that farmers themselves must be the owners of agricultural technology - has become a strong bridge connecting practice and academia.
