The Nation's First 'Mid- to Long-Term Food Comprehensive Policy' to Be Established in June... First Meeting on the 30th

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Korea Rural Economic Institute Hold First Meeting on 30th
In Preparation for September UN Food Systems Summit

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government announced on the 30th that it plans to establish a mid- to long-term policy encompassing the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of agricultural and food products by the end of June. This is in preparation for a related meeting to be held at the United Nations (UN) in September. Starting with the first meeting on the 30th, five domestic meetings will be held until May to formulate the policy.

On the 29th, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it will hold a "Food System Meeting" at 2 p.m. on the 30th in Seoul, together with the Korea Rural Economic Institute. The food system refers to the overall food environment including the production, processing, distribution, and consumption of agricultural and food products. Although food has been included in previous "Comprehensive Agricultural and Rural Policies," this is the first time a comprehensive food policy is being separately prepared.

The meeting’s topics include food security, sustainable production and consumption, and food assurance, but a broad discussion on Korea’s food system is expected. Ahead of the September meeting, the UN has requested member countries to actively engage in domestic discussions. As of the 24th, 57 countries have appointed domestic chairs, and 10 countries are discussing sustainable measures for food systems. Last month, Korea appointed Kim Hongsang, president of the Korea Rural Economic Institute, as the domestic chair and notified the UN.

At the meeting, David Navarro, Special Advisor to the UN Secretariat, will explain the background of the summit. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will introduce the domestic discussion plan, and the Presidential Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Policy will present the national food plan. The Korea Rural Economic Institute will announce the results of a public perception survey on the food system conducted jointly with the Korea Institute of Agricultural Education, Culture and Information Service. Afterwards, opinions from producer and consumer groups as well as experts will be heard.

Domestic discussions will be held five times until May. The meeting contents will be reflected in the mid- to long-term food policy to be established in June and introduced to the world through the UN summit website. After the first meeting on the 30th of next month, the schedule, progress method, and materials for domestic discussions will be posted on the Korea Rural Economic Institute website, and an opinion collection board will be operated.

A Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs official said, "In the international community, there is a consensus that considering the COVID-19 and climate change situations, countries need to transform their food systems to reduce the number of people suffering from hunger and lower the environmental burden of agriculture. We will set policy directions to enhance the sustainability of the food system focusing on elements that the public considers important and prepare steadily to announce this at the September summit."

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