Hampyeong-gun Enacts Ordinance to Designate 'Seed Day' for the First Time Among Local Governments

Hampyeong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 23rd that it has recently enacted and promulgated an ordinance designating August 3rd as "Seed Day," the first such designation among local governments nationwide.

This ordinance was established because the seed industry plays an important role as a green bio-industry in preparing for food security amid climate change, and August 3rd, Seed Day, marks the date when Hampyeong-gun's chrysanthemum variety was first registered.

The seed industry is now regarded as an industry that goes beyond simply addressing basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter, and is capable of convergence with food, pharmaceuticals, and material industries.

As its importance as a national key industry increases, seed powerhouse countries are supporting the securing of genetic resources and the preemption of intellectual property rights at the national level.

The government announced the "3rd Comprehensive Plan for Seed Industry Promotion" (2023?2027), aiming to foster the seed industry through technological innovation with a budget of 1.941 trillion KRW over five years and targeting export revenue of 120 million USD.

This plan will be carried out focusing on five major strategies centered on technological innovation.

The five strategies are ▲ commercialization of new breeding technologies such as digital breeding ▲ focus on developing competitive core seeds ▲ strengthening the construction of three core infrastructures ▲ policy support tailored to corporate growth and development ▲ improvement of food seed supply and fostering of the seedling industry.

In addition, Hampyeong-gun has bred its own chrysanthemum varieties and registered 22 new varieties, including Nabi Beonyeong, since 2010.

Through this, it differentiates itself from other local governments by actively developing new varieties and holding the chrysanthemum festival annually.

The county is striving to solve royalty issues through self-variety breeding and to hold the festival 7 to 10 days earlier than other regions by developing timely varieties such as Hyeonaeguk, Hwadanguk, and Bunjaeguk.

County Governor Lee Sang-ik said, “We enacted the ordinance to emphasize the importance of the seed industry and to take the lead in creating an opportunity for the promotion and development of the seed industry in Hampyeong-gun,” adding, “Through this ordinance, we will do our best to promote economic development and contribute to food security.”

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