○ Approximately 11,600 metric tons of effective microorganisms distributed in 2021 for eco-friendly crop and livestock production and farm odor reduction
○ GARES discussed matters to determine the foundation for producing and distributing effective microorganisms with agricultural technology centers of Gyeonggi Province.

The Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services (GARES) announced on April 13 that it had distributed 11,600 metric tons of effective microorganisms to farms in Gyeonggi Province for the eco-friendly production of crops and livestock as well as for the reduction of farm odors.

Since 2008, Gyeonggi Province has been culturing effective microorganisms – such as lactobacillus, hay bacillus, photosynthetic bacteria, and yeast – from agricultural technology centers of the region for distribution to farms upon request.

In the previous year, 11,632 metric tons of effective microorganisms for agricultural use were distributed to 19,700 farms (16.3% of all farms). Of these, 12,769 farms (64.8%) received 5,363 metric tons (46.1%) for crops while 6,931 farms (35.2%) received 6,268 metric tons (53.9%) for livestock.

GARES and the Rural Development Administration conducted a survey on the satisfaction of 1,590 beneficiaries of the 2020 project, with 52.7% of respondents indicating that the solution reduced odors when sprayed on livestock housing and 42.4% responding that animals fed on the solution showed reduced susceptibility to diseases. The overall satisfaction with effectiveness was 93.5%.

To continue the distribution of effective microorganisms this year, GARES hosted a consultative meeting on April 12 to determine the foundation for producing and distributing effective microorganisms; this event saw the participation of 45 representatives of agricultural technology centers in Gyeonggi Province that culture environment-friendly effective microorganisms.

This consultative meeting was organized to ensure successful project implementation through discussions on the production and distribution of effective microorganisms and to find areas for improvement in technology dissemination trials through cooperation between Gyeonggi Province, its cities/counties, and the private sector.

The following were the main agenda items: (Education) ‘How to produce high-quality microorganisms’ (Dr. Kim Hee-gon, Gyeonggi Animal Sanitation Laboratory); (Case Study) ‘Trial for the utilization of multi-functional microorganisms’ (Cho Eun-hye, Gwangju City); (Case Study) ‘Installation and operation of a microbiological culture branch’ (Lee Su-geun, Icheon City); (Business Discussion) plans for the yearly projects of the Microbial Development Council; and (Debate) suggestions regarding the production of effective microorganisms and exchange of agricultural information.

Kim Seok-cheol, President of the Gyeonggi-do Agricultural Research & Extension Services, said, “For the stable implementation of a foundation for producing and distributing microorganisms, we will continue to promote quality tests and spawn distribution, as well as the education of relevant government workers, so as to raise our competencies.”