축산업의 명암과 미래: 1조 원의 외형 성장 뒤에 숨겨진 구조적 과제들 > K-wave Trends

The 1.4 trillion won in annual income recorded by Jeju's livestock industry is the result of the rise in prices of major items such as pigs and Korean beef, and is more a reflection of the imbalance in market supply and demand than an increase in production. The pig farming industry still plays a central role in the local economy, accounting for 35% of total raw fish income, but the number of pigs shipped is on the decline, raising concerns about the stability of the production base. For Korean beef, the surge in price due to a decrease in slaughter volume only led to an increase in sales, but it is difficult to view it as a structural stability that guarantees long-term consumption demand and farm profitability. Behind this external growth, there are risks such as the burden of feed costs, changes in distribution structure, and instability in forage supply and demand due to climate change, so there are clear limitations in judging the health of the industry simply by increasing or decreasing sales.

As the scale of livestock farming grows, the environmental responsibility and social acceptability required by local communities also become more stringent. In particular, odor and river pollution caused by livestock waste are chronic problems that cause conflict between farms and residents, and technological innovations are being attempted in various ways to solve this problem. The cow dung solid fuel project being promoted in Wanju and Gimje, Jeollabuk-do is a groundbreaking turning point in transforming cow dung from simple waste into an energy source for thermal power generation. This is an alternative that can simultaneously achieve the environmental goals of improving Saemangeum water quality and reducing greenhouse gases, and is evaluated as a future-oriented model that can expect an annual import substitution effect of 150 billion won once production facilities are built in five cities and counties in the future.

Odor reduction research using microbial technology and general agricultural and fishing village development projects that expand living infrastructure in fishing villages are also part of efforts to improve the constitution of livestock farming and farming and fishing villages. Daegu Gunwi-gun's empirical research on introducing patented microorganisms is attracting attention in that it attempts a fundamental biological approach to the problem of odor, which had its limitations through facility improvement alone. In addition, Yeongdeok-gun's fishing village development contest selection case shows a comprehensive strategy to respond to the crisis of regional extinction by going beyond simple production activities and improving settlement conditions by combining culture and welfare infrastructure. These innovative attempts by individual local governments provide a clue for the livestock industry to move beyond a simple primary industry and move toward a high value-added industry that combines cutting-edge technology and welfare.

Policy support to increase the economic vitality of rural areas is also in line with changes in the livestock industry. Basic income for rural and fishing communities, a key agricultural policy task of the Lee Jae-myung administration, is directly improving the quality of life of residents by significantly expanding the pilot project area, and this is contributing to creating a virtuous cycle structure in the local economy through the use of local currency. However, in order for this income support policy to become permanently established, sophisticated design and financial resources must be developed based on the results proven through pilot projects. In addition, measures such as mandatory quarantine of livestock products when importing beekeeping honey and pollen, which will be implemented starting in November, demonstrate the government's will to create a safe livestock ecosystem by protecting the domestic production base and blocking the introduction of diseases.