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Exhibits showcase past, present, future of Korea-Africa agricultural ties
Dignitaries from African countries who participate in the 2024 Korea-Africa Agricultural Conference at The Plaza Hotel Seoul check booths set up by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Ko Dong-hwan
By Ko Dong-hwan
Samples of bags of Korean rice harvested and packaged by the Korean government to send to the U.N. World Food Program as food aid for countries in Africa are showcased at one of the booths prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs during the 2024 Korea-Africa Agricultural Conference at The Plaza Hotel Seoul, Wednesday. Korea Times photo by Ko Dong-hwan
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs showcased the past, present and future of partnerships between Korea and African nations when the ministry hosted the 2024 Korea-Africa Agricultural Conference at The Plaza Hotel Seoul, Wednesday.
Under the slogan “The Future We Make Together: Agricultural Unity Across Korea and Africa,” the booths promoted Korea’s official development assistance (ODA) projects both unfolding and in operation on the continent, the diplomatic history between Korea and Africa which dates back to 1950, and Korean foods through tasting opportunities for guests at the conference.
The booths summarized Korea’s past and ongoing food assistance projects for African nations and other countries worldwide. They shared the ministry’s humanitarian efforts in having provided 50,000 tons of rice each year since 2018 to 3 million refugees and those displaced on the continent.
They highlighted K-Ricebelt, a key ODA project for Africa launched by the ministry last year, which led to the production of over 2,000 tons of rice seeds in cooperation with six African nations.
“This project aims to establish a seed cultivation complex in seven (African) countries by 2027, produce 10,000 tons of high-yielding rice seeds annually and secure stable food supply for around 30 million people,” the booths explained.
Ongoing technical support initiatives by the Rural Development Administration (RDA), an agricultural research institute under the ministry, were introduced by the booths, drawing attention to the Korea-Africa Food and Agriculture Cooperation Initiative (KAFACI) and Korea Partnership for Innovation of Agriculture (KOPIA).
The booths also promoted the ministry’s future agenda of securing agricultural genetic resources in Africa so that the continent’s natural produce will remain sustainable and “a priceless heritage for future generations.”
In another section separately promoted by the booths was vivid footage of Korea and African nations as they have supported each other throughout a history of over 70 years.
The panorama, divided into four key years, began in 1950 with Egypt, Ethiopia, Liberia, South Africa and Morocco joining a global alliance led by the United Nations to protect South Korea from North Korea’s invasion during the Korean War.
It was followed by 2009 when Korea, having emerged from its war-torn past, launched the KOPIA Kenya Center and began provisioning advanced agricultural techniques to the continent.
The booths showed the support, which was ramped up in 2018 when Korea started providing rice to Africa in partnership with the United Nations' World Food Program. The humanitarian food aid turned more systematic and popular among African countries in 2023 when the ministry made a commitment to share the entire value chain behind Korea’s rice farming industry under the K-Ricebelt project.
The booths also urged visitors to taste Korean delicacies made with Korean rice, including castella cakes, Danish pastries, rice cakes, snacks and traditional beverages.