Jeongeup-si Invests 10 Billion Won to Promote 'Science and Technology Project' Initiative

[Jeongeup=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil] Jeongeup City in Jeollabuk-do announced on the 12th that it will actively promote the ‘2022 Science and Technology Project Opening the Future of the Region,’ with a total project cost of 10 billion KRW over five years.

Prior to the project launch, the city was selected in April for the ‘Science and Technology Project Opening the Future of the Region’ hosted by the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Accordingly, the city will proceed with the ‘Commercialization of Functional Composite Formulations for Productivity Improvement and Carbon Reduction Based on the Gut Microbiome of Economic Animals Using Living Labs’ project, with a total budget of 10 billion KRW.

The microbiome collectively refers to microbes living inside the body and the ecosystem, and is currently being researched in various fields.

The core of this project is to utilize the gut microbiome to improve the productivity of cattle and pigs and develop technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In particular, the project aims to secure effectiveness through on-site verification at livestock farms in the Jeongeup area, and plans to promote a living lab-based R&D project involving researchers, producers, and consumers together.

This project is jointly overseen by Jeongeup City and Jeollabuk-do, with Jeonbuk Technopark participating as the lead research institution.

Additionally, the Agricultural and Livestock Microbial Industry Promotion Support Center Foundation, Jeonbuk National University Animal Molecular Genetics Breeding Project Group, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology Jeonbuk Branch, and Safety Evaluation Research Institute Jeonbuk Branch are participating as joint research and development institutions.

Along with these, Woojin B&G Co., Ltd., BioTen Co., Ltd. located in Jeongeup, and Jeongnong Bio Co., Ltd. will collaborate on research, development, and commercialization.

Regarding this, on the 11th, the city held a launch ceremony for the Microbiome Economic Animal Innovation Project Group at the Agricultural and Livestock Microbial Industry Promotion Support Center together with the Ministry of Science and ICT, Jeollabuk-do, and Jeonbuk Technopark, officially marking the start of the project.

The launch ceremony was attended by Mayor Lee Hak-su, Kwon Seok-min, Director of Science and Technology Job Innovation at the Ministry of Science and ICT, Choi Chang-seok, Director of Innovation Growth Policy at Jeollabuk-do, and Jo Yong-chul, Head of Jeonbuk Headquarters at the Research and Development Special Zone Promotion Foundation, among other key guests.

Through this project, the city plans to build a gut microbiome database for economic animals and secure functional probiotics for gut microbiome regulation to reduce feed input and shorten the breeding period.

In particular, it aims to significantly contribute to improving citizens’ living environment by reducing livestock odors through the reduction of greenhouse gases such as methane and carbon dioxide generated in livestock farming.

Mayor Lee Hak-su said, “I hope this project will not only increase farm income and strengthen consumer trust but also solve the problem of livestock odors,” adding, “I expect this project to serve as an opportunity to create future new growth engines for the entire Jeollabuk-do beyond Jeongeup.”

Jeongeup=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Jaegil baekok@asiae.co.kr

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