WHO and Nutrition Experts Visit Local Food Sites in Wanju County

Agricultural Technology Center and Direct Markets:
WHO and Global Experts Visit Wanju to Observe Local Food Policies

The World Health Organization (WHO) and health and nutrition experts from both Korea and abroad are turning their attention to Wanju County.

According to the county on the 30th, the WHO and health and nutrition experts visited Wanju County on this day to observe the region’s local food policies and infrastructure.

Wanju County Office Exterior. Provided by Wanju County

The delegation included Dr. Francesco Branca (former Director of Nutrition and Food Safety at WHO, currently a professor at the University of Geneva), Claudia Fernandez de Cordoba Farini (Consultant at the WHO Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment and Health), Professor Yoon Jihyun (Seoul National University), and Professor Kang Yunhee (Seoul National University), who are all renowned experts in the fields of food, climate, and public health.

Beginning at the Agricultural Technology Center, the delegation carefully examined every stage of the local food system, from production to processing and distribution, by visiting sites such as the Yongjin Nonghyup Local Food Direct Market and the Gui Local Food Processing Center. They showed great interest in Wanju County’s scientific farming infrastructure, local agricultural product safety verification systems, and agricultural product processing systems.

They emphasized the strategic importance of local food in addressing global challenges such as climate change and food safety. During a tea meeting with County Governor Yoo Heetae at the county office, there were questions and suggestions regarding Wanju County’s sustainable agricultural policies and community-based food systems, as well as discussions about the potential for international cooperation.

The delegation stated, “The county’s local food model is an excellent example of practical action that can respond to the climate crisis and global food safety issues,” and added, “There is a need for international sharing and cooperation going forward.”

County Governor Yoo Heetae said, “This visit was an opportunity to confirm the international status of Wanju’s local food,” and added, “We will continue our efforts to build a sustainable food system so that we can become a leading region not only in Korea but also globally.”

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