WINNERS GALLERY

Q1. What is the background pursuing the Mecca of organic farming?

Goesan-gun has been intensively promoting organic farming on the basis of clean nature and environment. Goesan-gun was declared as an organic farming province in 2012, a first in Korea, and attracted over 10,000 visitors to the 2015 Goesan International Organic Industry Expo. As such, Goesan-gun has been leading the organic industry in Korea.

As the nation-wide eco-friendly organizations, including Hansallim, Heuksallim, and iCoop are based in Goesan, the area has the unique advantage of cooperating with those organizations for the promotion of the organic industry. Another advantage is that relevant organizations located in Goesan-gun include Goesan Nature Dream Park and Heuksallim Research Center.

Goesan-gun has been actively promoting international organic exchange activities with domestic and global organizations. Moreover, Goesan-gun is leading the globalization of K-organic farming, including hosting the first International Young Organic Farmers Convention in October 2021.

Q2. What kinds of policies are implemented to promote organic farming?

Goesan-gun has been expanding a variety of policies to promote eco-friendly and organic farming to expand the eco-farming certified area to 1,100ha by 2025. Moreover, Goesan-gun has been implementing a public organic farming management system. In addition, Goesan-gun is promoting customized policies to change existing farmers to eco-friendly farmers. In particular, Goesan-gun will improve the added value of local agricultural products and promote organic farming as a future bioindustry, expanding the support for research, manufacturing, production, processing, and distribution of eco-friendly and organic agricultural products.

Q3. What does Goesan-gun do to develop specialized farmers?

Goesan-gun established the Organic Bio Industry Contract Department in Jungwon University to strengthen the capability of farmers. Furthermore, Goesan-gun has been operating the organic master course and an eco-agricultural college. Just 7 years after the first Expo in 2015, Goesan International Organic Industry Expo will be held in Geosan-gun Organic Expo Park in September 2022 under the theme ‘Healthy World Created by Organic Farming’. The Expo will present a variety of things to see for visitors in the general pavilion, the international organic farming cooperation pavilion, the organic agricultural food pavilion, the bio health care pavilion, the organic farming healing pavilion, and the pet care industry pavilion.