The Rural Development Administration (RDA) has launched a farming technology cooperation program with the Brazilian Organization for Agricultural Research (EMBRAPA). On March 17 and 18, the two institutions held a joint workshop in Brasilia on livestock farming, animal feed additives and greenhouse farming.

The workshop was held at EMBRAPA headquarters, with a common understanding that they need one-to-one discussions and an exchange of information between researchers in order to effectively pursue joint studies and to produce results. They decided to do a joint study on: the use of genetic and biotechnological engineering techniques on the development of livestock farming and animal feed additives; the optimization of greenhouses for vegetable farming; and, the development of climate control and energy saving technologies. They plan to start these research projects this year.




Under the memorandum of understanding signed during the Korea-Brazil summit in 2008, EMBRAPA set up its first overseas research institute in Asia in the RDA and has been dispatching resident researchers to the facility since that time.

"We were able to establish networks and to form a clear cooperation model on a project-by-project basis in the areas of mutual interest," said an RDA official. "We will contribute to the realization of a 'creative economy' in the farming sector and through the expansion of farming technology cooperation with EMBRAPA, we will help with the development of future farming technologies."

By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr