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02. Practical Use of Agricultural Bio-resources
Agenda 2 aims to make agro-biological resources such as beneficial insects and microorganisms a source of higher value-added business. Research on the practical use of agricultural microorganisms in the actual farming as well as in producing medical products (i.e., artificial eardrums out of cocoon from which silk is reeled off and cosmetics with bee venom) will be conducted.. These initiatives aimed at increasing rural household income and make agriculture Korea¡¯s economic stronghold.
Agenda 2 has three sub-projects, namely
(1) developing technology to utilize cocoon and honeybee,
(2) developing insects as useful resources, and
(3) applying beneficial microorganisms to actual farming.
Sub-project 1 will focus on breeding technology for stable supply of excellent cocoon/honeybee species in a bid to make the sericulture and apiculture industry the new future growth engine. This includes development of blood sugar-depressing agents, silk toothpaste, soap, artificial eardrum out of cocoon, and cosmeceuticals for humans and livestock out of bee venom. To do these, four research fields will be done such as
(1) Raising the supply of new cocoon breed, searching and developing functional substances and materials,
(2) Enhancing the competitiveness of the apiculture industry through selection of excellent honeybee breed and production of various apicultural products,
(3) Making sericultural and apicultural products such as silk protein, bee venom, etc. a source of high-value business,
(4) Using cutting-edge bioengineering technology for cocoon biomaterial development.
Sub-project 2 will focus on studying the infinite economic value of some common insects.¡¡Likewise, a study will be conducted to commercialize high-value income sources through developing technology to use insects in actual agricultural fields, discovering new functional materials from insects through cutting-edge fusion technology, and recycling of resources and other information. Specifically, this sub-project will conduct four research fields such as
(1) Investing on and commercializing beneficial insects,
(2) Development of mass rearing system and technology for industrial use of beneficial insects,
(3) Isolation and characterization of new medical and food products from insects, and
(4) Development of technology to diagnose insect diseases and to evaluate ecological and environmental risks.
Sub-project 3 will study the use of microorganisms in farming, which includes production of green and safe agricultural products; identification, selection, and growth simulation of beneficial microorganisms for pest control; and development of technologies to utilize them. Five research fields will be implemented, such as
(1) Increasing the use of resources through characterization of microorganisms and standardization of their management.
(2) Gathering of information on the ecology of microorganisms including the functions and distribution of soil microbes.
(3) Developing commerciable technology using microorganisms for crop growth and immunization,
(4) Developing technology for microorganisms useful for pest control, and
(5) Developing technology for improved agricultural and stockbreeding environment.
