The Korea National Food Cluster of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 

Established 'Mecca' phase in technical support for food companies  

​​# Company A, which moved into the Korea National Food Cluster of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, produces traditional German bread, Baumkuhen. Company A has won the gold prize at the International Food Quality Test in Germany through various technical support projects of the Korea National Food Cluster. It also received government awards for future packaging new technology for developing transportation tray to prevent product damages and applying for a patent with it. Sales of the company, which moved in 2017, have grown nearly seven times in a year.

The Korea National Food Cluster of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is becoming a Mecca for technical support for food companies.

The Korea National Food Cluster located in Iksan, Jeonbuk is the first food industry complex in Korea aimed at fostering food companies and supports R&D, and network-oriented and export-oriented ‘New Hub in the global food market.’ It also has technical support facilities and production facilities. Examples are the Functional Food Evaluation Center, Food Quality Safety Center, Food Packaging Center, Pilot Plant, and Sauce Industrialization Center.

“We are currently assisting the growth of tenant companies through various support projects,” said an official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and he added “The project carried out at the technical support facilities is highly responsive to companies.” on the 9^th.

According to experts' diagnosis, the national Food Cluster is pursuing a short-term technology support project to supplement or improve technological difficulties in the company's field within six months, and a mid-term technology support project to help develop new technologies and produce new products within six months or more or a year. As of March this year, 21 companies, including 10 short-term technology support companies and 11 mid-term technology support companies, have implemented technology support projects worth 1.46 billion won.

The Korea National Food Cluster is trying to resolve the difficulties of the companies by directly participating in the technology development of master and doctorate-level working-level researchers who have the experience in companies and leading research institutes in Korea. “We are enhancing company satisfaction by providing more specialized technical support to companies through collaboration with domestic and international experts.” an official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

The Korea National Food Cluster has earned the status of an International Accrediation Test Facility (Korean Laboratory Accrediation Science, KOLAS and is regarded highly internationally for its technology as it is highly skilled enough to be judged ‘excellent’ in nine categories of the Food Analysis Performance Assessment Scheme (FAPAS).

The Korea National Food Cluster plans to push for a support project worth 2.633 billion won in the second half of this year. The Korea National Food Cluster, which has been designated as a public institution this year, aims to present a vision of ‘innovative growth in the food industry.’

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, “We will continue to carry out technical support projects to promote the food industry through the growth of food companies, which is the original purpose of establishing the National Food Cluster.” 

(Source: Asia Today ​http://www.asiatoday.co.kr/view.php?key=20190409010005993)

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