School Meal Electronic Procurement System to Expand to Daycare Centers and Others Next Year

Building a Customized Platform for Clients Next Year... Strengthening Safety Management

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The school meal electronic procurement system (eaT), used by 80% of elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide, will be expanded into a public meal platform.

On the 29th, the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT) announced that it is building the platform with the goal of launching services in the public meal sector by September next year. An aT official explained, "Based on the expertise gained from operating eaT, we are building a public meal platform with expanded functions to stably supply Korean agricultural and fishery products to various demand sectors," adding, "We plan to start the service around September next year."

According to aT, the eaT platform, which procures ingredients for school meals, has increased the number of user schools from 119 in 2010 to 9,465 in 2020. The number of demand institutions is also growing, including daycare centers, social welfare facilities, and local governments. More than 90% of the ingredients procured through eaT are domestically produced agricultural and fishery products.

Once the public meal platform is established next year, it is expected to be utilized according to the characteristics of each public meal sector, such as kindergartens, daycare centers, and social welfare facilities.

Additionally, a 'Comprehensive Ingredient Management System' will be established to standardize transaction data and manage statistics. This system will provide supply and demand information for meal ingredients.

Safety management of ingredients will also be strengthened. To this end, inspections of suppliers will be improved to be more scientific and systematic. Specifically, the intelligent bidding control system will be advanced through data analysis using big data such as bidding history and Internet Protocol (IP) information. A satisfaction evaluation and review system for suppliers based on mobile platforms will be newly introduced to help demand institutions identify excellent suppliers. Efforts will also be made to share safety management information, including customized consulting for companies aiming to enter the public meal market, support for matching demand institutions with outstanding nutrition teachers, and the production and dissemination of hygiene education content in cooperation with food safety specialized organizations.

Yoon Young-bae, head of the aT Agro-Food Exchange Division, said, "The public meal platform will contribute to expanding the consumption market for Korean agricultural and fishery products and realizing sustainable agriculture through a virtuous food cycle," adding, "Based on the operational know-how of eaT, we will build a platform that can be conveniently and beneficially used by more demand sectors through communication with various stakeholders."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.