○ Province establishes “2022 Promotion Plan for Livestock Policy” and ‘“Smart Happy Livestock with Residents”
○ Allocation of KRW 300 billion budget for three strategies: production, welfare and co-existence
– Increase of productivity, expansion of smart livestock, realization of carbon neutrality and strengthening of industrial animal welfare system

Gyeonggi Province announced on February 14 that it plans to allocate a total budget of KRW 300 billion through the establishment of the “2022 Promotion Plan for Livestock Policy” for the “Smart Happy Livestock with Residents” project so as to achieve carbon neutrality and increase productivity.

This is being done so as to actively respond to internal/external environmental changes, including the removal of livestock tariffs based on free trade agreements (FTAs) and the reorganization of systems to achieve carbon neutrality, and in tandem with the increasing importance of self-sufficiency in livestock farming relative to food security.

Accordingly, Gyeonggi Province plans to pursue three strategies: 1) stable new growth engine development based on livestock farming (production); 2) advanced national livestock farming for ‘happy’ livestock (welfare); and 3) clean and reliable resident-friendly livestock realization (co-existence).

The province has allocated a related budget of KRW 300 billion this year, focusing on improving the productivity and settlement of ‘smart’ livestock, establishing environment-friendly livestock farms, managing safe feed resources, promoting new growth engines, and establishing safe livestock systems.

First, Gyeonggi has earmarked a budget of KRW 92 billion for 13 projects, including the dissemination of livestock ICT convergence and strengthening the competitiveness of each farming type (dairy, swine, poultry, etc.) so as to increase the productivity and settlement of ‘smart’ livestock. The “city/county autonomous budget” system was adopted this year to ascertain regional status and address the demand by farming operations to strengthen the competitive points of each farming type.

Second, in accordance with the 2050 Carbon Neutral Strategy of the Republic of Korea, the province will establish sustainable, environment-friendly livestock farms under the “strategy to revitalize a Gyeonggi-type circular agro-livestock industry,” which was introduced last March.

More specifically, it will allocate KRW 45 billion to 13 projects, including closed-type livestock manure treatment facilities preferred by farms as well as multi-use livestock treatment equipment, and continue with the “happy livestock farm support project” so as ensure pleasant breeding environments and increase industrial animal welfare.

Third, KRW 12 billion will be used for 8 projects, including production support for bulk feed, production of grass feed on unused land, conversion of endowed resources into feed, and safe quality control of feed manufacturing facilities in terms of safe feed resource management.

Fourth, KRW 10 billion will be put into 15 projects, including the production and distribution of riding horses, genomic analyses of milch cows, and nurturing of new milch cow types to promote new growth engines, such as the equine and apiculture industries, as well as productivity increases through genetic modification, thereby proactively responding to future livestock environments.

Lastly, the province will utilize KRW 24 billion for 6 projects, including the support of livestock insurance and emergency support for various natural disasters affecting livestock, such as heat waves and heavy snowfalls, so as to establish safe livestock systems.

Livestock Policy Division Director Kim Young-su commented, “The livestock industry accounts for the top ten high-value-added agrifood products and is an important national undertaking in terms of food security.” Kim added, “Gyeonggi Province will constantly work to identify key projects and strategies for future livestock industries so as to meet the challenges of ever-changing environments.”