[2021 National Audit] Kim Chunjin, aT President, "Concrete Plans for Complex Food Processing Complex Project"

"Solving Food Supply Issues, Developing as a Northeast Asia Hub"

Kim Chun-jin, President of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), responding at the National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee's audit on the 14th. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Kim Chunjin, President of the Korea Agro-Fisheries & Food Trade Corporation (aT), stated on the 14th, "We will work on concretizing the complex food processing complex (combinat) project and securing the budget to solve domestic food supply issues and foster it as a food hub in Northeast Asia in the future."

At the National Assembly's Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock, Food, and Maritime Affairs Committee's audit held in Yeouido, Seoul, Kim said, "Concerns about food supply instability are growing amid the social and economic crisis caused by the global spread of COVID-19." aT is implementing policies such as stabilizing the supply of agricultural and fishery products, improving distribution, promoting exports, and fostering the food industry.

Kim introduced, "Since assuming the presidency in March, I proposed the establishment of a comprehensive food processing combinat," adding, "Since April, we have formed a dedicated task force (TF) to review promotion plans and plan to cooperate closely with the government."

Regarding ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management, aT is conducting activities to supply safe food and promote low-carbon and eco-friendly dietary habits.

Kim emphasized, "Since July, we have designated the last Thursday of every month as ‘Korea Green Food Day’ to practice a campaign of eating eco-friendly local agricultural products without leaving leftovers," adding, "We will develop this into a nationwide campaign for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 in cooperation with education offices, local governments, and public institutions nationwide."

The school meal electronic procurement system (eaT), used by about 80% of elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide, plans to expand its scope to public sectors such as kindergartens, welfare facilities, and military meals.

Regarding digitalization, aT is expanding direct transactions of local specialties through social networking services (SNS) and live broadcasts and is also promoting new distribution channels such as online auctions. Kim said, "We will do our best to lead the activation of the data economy in the agro-fisheries and food sector by building a system that collects and analyzes big data across all stages of production, distribution, and consumption of agricultural and fishery products and provides it as converged data desired by consumers."

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